It looks like you may be using adblocking software to view this site.
Many features on the site, such as video playback, may not work properly when using adblocking software.
Please whitelist our domain or disable your adblocker to access all features and videos.
Queensland Maroons coach Tahnee Norris has highlighted the big game experience and genuine passion for the women’s game as key factors in bringing Greg Inglis into her coaching staff this year.
The NRL Hall of Fame inductee was announced alongside former Norths Devils premiership-winning coach Dave Elliott in Norris’s new-look coaching team to join incumbent Meg Ward, in the same week Wests Tigers also unveiled him as an assistant to Brett Kimmorley for their 2025 campaign.
Inglis has been a long-time advocate and supporter of female rugby league players; seeing the Jillaroos side off before their triumphant 2013 campaign and has also served as a mentor to the Women’s Indigenous All Stars and Maroons teams.
“He's genuinely been interested in the women's game for such a long time, he's got a passion for the women's space; he's always been a big advocate … and I think that in itself, to have the passion around the women's game that he does, the players really appreciate that,” Norris told NRL.com.
“They already see that support and have done since he's been involved in the Maroons program over the last couple of years as a mentor. He is genuinely wanting to help the girls get better and the knowledge that he brings … is just going to be so helpful for those girls.
“Dave will lead our spine and our attack and then GI will be our outside back specialist, so to have somebody of that calibre come in is very exciting.”
As well as sharing what he knows about the game, the man better known as GI will provide guidance to players experiencing the highs and lows of a State of Origin campaign.
“Because he's been part of the system, he knows how we operate internally with the women's program as well (but) obviously, there are differences between the men's Origin and with its Origin camp,” Norris said.
“We only just went to three games last year, so that was important for us with his understanding of coming back from losses and how tight the games are … that's where his mentoring comes in.
“It has been really good for the girls, so to have him fulltime to be able to do that is a real asset for us moving forward …
“(Last year) was actually hard to be honest, that's the first time they've had to deal with the amount of pressure (of an Origin series), and he's obviously been in that with grand finals and with Origin, so it was good to be able to say “have a talk to GI, he'll know what you're talking about and can help”.
The opening game of the Ampol Women’s State of Origin series will take place on Thursday, May 1 at Suncorp Stadium.
Match: Maroons v Blues Women
Game 1 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues Women
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Another former Origin player taking the step into coaching women and girls is Blues forward Andrew Fifita, who is at the helm of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Under 19s girls in this year’s Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup.
The 2016 premiership winner has some past experience as coach of the De La Salle Under 10s girls, but was excited to make the step up into pathways coaching, with the team to take on the Sea Eagles in Round 2 this weekend.
“Towards the end of my career I wanted to help grow the game and that female space is huge. I’d like to see my daughter, who turns 10 this year, come through and have all these opportunities to play,” Fifita told NSWRL.com.
“To be honest, I’m just taking that professional-player mindset. I will say coaching is really different, but I can now see both sides – from the player’s point of view and a coach.”
