Sienna Lofipo has been soaking in as much knowledge as she can from her more experienced teammates after being named in two Queensland representative teams in the space of a week.
Initially named in the Emerging Under 19 squad alongside fellow youngster Skyla Adams, the pair then found out they'd been selected in the extended the Maroons squad as well.
The opportunity to be in camp with the senior squad is fast-tracking their development, with Lofipo and Adams also taking part in a number of pre-camps in preparation for this year’s three-game Origin series.
“It was pretty cool being named in both, but for the majority [of the campaign], I'm going to be sticking with the Women's squad, just to be amongst it so I know how it goes and then I can drop back down to 19s later on,” Lofipo said.
“We've had a few training camps recently and I just learnt so much and have taken so much away from every training and I try to bring it back to club land as well.
“I want to just keep adding to that, adding to what I've been learning over the past few weeks and looking forward to being part of it.
“It’s awesome just to be in and amongst it.”
Lofipo is no stranger to mixing it with the big kids, having been named as 19th player in the Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons Game II squad last year.
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She is listed as 18th player for Queensland in Thursday night's series opener at Suncorp Stadium but if she doesn’t take the field, she will be able to slot straight into the Under 19s side to take on NSW at Leichhardt Oval on June 20.
Speaking on their selection, Maroons coach Tahnee Norris said it was “good opportunity” for the young players who have been moving through Queensland’s rep programs.
“Really excited for those girls, they have come through our pathways. Sienna Lofipo, Skyla Adams, even Makenzie Weale has come through our pathways as well, a really good opportunity for those girls,” Norris said.
“(They are) some super-talented athletes and I am really happy to have them included in the squad.”
Selection in the two representative squads caps a big year for Titans young gun Lofipo, who made her NRLW debut last season in dramatic fashion and also captained the Queensland 19s team to a 20-14 victory over NSW in Redcliffe last July.
Transitioning from five-eighth into lock through her time playing with Wynnum Manly Seagulls in the BMD Premiership this season, Lofipo reflected on how much she had grown as a player.
“Got the call-up for the Queensland 19s last year, got the win,” Lofipo said.
“That was an awesome game, one of my favourite camps so far.
“(In NRLW, I made) my debut last year, it was Round 1, didn't really know much around the 18th player activation rule, so I was sitting on the bench, I was so into the game and there was a foul play, a head knock, and then everyone was just like ‘Oh, no’ and then next minute they were, ‘Sienna, you're on’ and I was just sitting on the bench, not even (ready).
“So then, I was on, just like that and that’s how I debuted.
“I think I developed like crazy last year, just having to get chucked right in there at the start, that sort of kicked it off, but I was probably grateful that that did happen in a way.”
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