It's been almost two years since Millie Elliott ran out to the roaring crowd of McDonald Jones Stadium but the Sky Blues prop believes it is the perfect stage for a potential Women's State of Origin decider.
Leaving Newcastle to join the Roosters in 2023, Elliott missed the much-anticipated homecoming last season but is grateful for the chance to run out as the home side again next Thursday.
Having returned to the Hunter often to watch her husband Adam play for the Knights, the 26-year-old has seen the Newcastle faithful grow into one of the greatest supporters of the women's game and believes it could form the perfect Cauldron for New South Wales.
"It actually will be my first time back at McDonald Jones, I was injured when we played against the Knights last year, so it’ll feel like my first game back at Newy," Elliott told NRL.com.
"I think it’s a great stadium, obviously it’s not my home stadium anymore but I love going there and I love supporting my husband Adam.
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"Last year when the Newcastle girls were playing, the crowds that turned up were incredible so it’s a credit to the town and how much they love their footy and support not only the men’s game but the women as well.
"It’s really cool to be a part of and be a player at this time and it looks like it may be a sold-out crowd as well which is really exciting."
The Sky Blues returned to camp on Thursday to begin preparations to chase their first historic three-game-series after dominating Queensland 22-12 in Game One.
Having let Queensland into the match late in the game after keeping them scoreless until the final 17 minutes, Elliott said her side will need to go up a gear if they hope to clinch the series on home soil.
"Look there’s plenty of things that we left on the field from Game One that we need to execute a lot better," she said.
"We weren’t lucky to get the win, we deserved the win but we can take a lot out of it as well.
"We’re not being complacent, they’ve got a new team and they’re going to come out firing, they’ve got nothing to lose and I think we’ve still got a lot to improve on as well.
"It's a monumental time for our sport having the first ever three game series so the win is just as important as any other but if we were able to do it on home soil for the first time that would be pretty special."
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