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Queensland Maroons forward Keilee Joseph is ready to step into the void left by reigning Nellie Doherty Medal winner Shannon Mato and wants to become a leader in her own right.
With Mato ruled out of this year’s State of Origin series and NRLW season after announcing her pregnancy and with enforcer Tazmin Rapana announcing her Origin retirement, Joseph said she was hoping she could use her experience to help her side get on the front foot in the series opener after being named at prop.
“I'm sad that Shannon's not in this year, but I'm so happy for her journey that she's going to go on, but I'm really excited to step up and take that role with both hands and just do my best,” Joseph told NRL.com.
Now entering her third campaign with the Maroons, Joseph – who is also approaching her fifth season of NRLW this year – said she was starting to find her voice in the game, having previously been happy to let her actions to the talking.
“There's been a couple of changes within the team, so those girls that were sitting back and being quiet and stuff like me, they've all stood up and they're ready to take on the next role of helping these other girls come through,” Joseph said.
“Definitely I feel more confident from where I first started to just being in the corner doing what I do and just playing footy and now being able to use my voice to the other girls and help them out wherever they need.
“I just like that that part of my game has developed really, really well.
“I'm excited to see where it gets me through this series.
“Also, these girls around me give me the confidence to use my voice.
“I've been playing for a couple of years now and I feel like I've got some experience that I can use towards the other girls that are in the in the team starting fresh.”
Coach Tahnee Norris said she was looking forward to seeing how players like Joseph took on the opportunity to lay a platform for the side.
“I think we've been lucky, we've been blessed with a number of front rowers in Queensland, so again it's next player up,” Norris said.
“Keilee Joseph’s been in the mix for quite some time now, so she's stepping into the starting front row position and obviously we've got Jess Elliston still there, so a strong pack I still think and a strong bench to make up for that as well.
“I'm really happy with what we've put together and I think New South Wales have made some changes as well through pregnancies they've lost both starting front rowers, so it'll be a good matchup.”
With no BMD Premiership competition being played in the lead-up to this year’s three-game series, it has been a different preparation for Queensland, who ultimately won out last year in claiming the honours after dropping the first game at Suncorp Stadium.
Match: Maroons v Blues Women
Game 1 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues Women
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Joseph missed that opportunity to play in front of family and friends to launch the series, sidelined with an MCL sprain, but was looking forward to running out this time around.
“Watching that last year was really, really hard, so I'm so excited to get out there and play this game,” Joseph said.
“I feel like compared to last year, I'm a lot fitter and stronger than I was, so I just can't wait to get out there and do my best.
“We want to set the standard and if we can win that first game and get on the front foot, that's all we really need, but you look what happened with the New South Wales last year.
“They won the first game and we just came back and beat them the next two, so it doesn't really matter what happens, but we just want to play our best footy.”
