Sky Blues co-captain Kezie Apps has called on Queensland to set another attendance record for the first ever decider in the Ampol Women's State of Origin series on June 27 in Townsville.
After a crowd of 25,782 braved pouring rain and chilly conditions in Newcastle to watch the Maroons win a thriller 11-10 and level the series at one game apiece, the stage is set for another blockbuster crowd in Queensland's north.
Game One of the series saw a then record 25,492 crowd at Suncorp Stadium, while the game in Newcastle had been a declared a sell-out in the lead-up but the he wretched weather ensured the actual attendance fell just short of capacity.
"It was really special to have that crowd," Apps said.
"We were lucky to warm up in it and get a feel for the crowd. There were a lot of people at warm-up and you could hear everyone there, and it was very special to run out for the first time. The anthem was really special because we were standing directly in front of our families so we could see that as well.
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"The roar was unbelievable, and it was brave for them to come out in those conditions, so we were very happy that we got to play here."
The Queensland Country Bank Stadium ground record of 27,533 was set for a State of Origin men's game in 2021 while 25,372 watched the Eels pip the Cowboys in a 2022 NRL preliminary final, so another new women's record remains a realistic target given the interest in this year's series.
"It's exciting for our women's game to be growing and fans loving our game and wanting to come and support us, and that's what we want," Apps said.
"We want more people to come and support us at our games, actually buying tickets and getting bums on seats, so hopefully Townsville can be another record and a sell-out up there, and a great game for women's rugby league.
"To have a one-all series and have that as a genuine decider, I can't wait for the next couple of weeks and to rip in and do it all again.
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While there's no shortage of tension and aggression on field between the two states, veteran Maroons skipper Ali Brigginshaw paid tribute to the manner in which both teams had worked hard to grow the game in recent years.
After challenges in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID pandemic, crowds have flocked back to both the NRLW and Women's Origin competitions, while record TV audiences have tuned in for both games in this year's series.
"We were at Magic Round after the last game and we had chants going through the crowd," Brigginshaw reflected. "I played in 2009 when we were playing on local fields and now we're having chants going around Magic Round talking about us women, so I only see us being professional very, very soon.
"There's no animosity there between Queensland and New South Wales. We're here to make women's rugby league better, and together we do that.
"Every crowd that shows up is awesome so you wait till you see what they're going to produce in Townsville. It's unbelievable the atmosphere when you go up there. You've got cars stopping you on the side of the road yelling out 'Queenslander'.
"It's their turn to go up there now."
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