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The Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons will be looking to get their 2025 campaign off on the right foot when they host the Westpac NSW Blues Women in the series opener at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
Despite being the current holders of the shield, the Maroons lost the corresponding match in Brisbane last year 22-12 and were forced to fight back with wins in Newcastle (11-10) and Townsville (22-6) to secure the series.
Both sides feature new-look packs with many of the big names like Shannon Mato and Millie Elliott taking time away from the game to grow their families, missing this year's Origin series and NRLW season.
Both sides have had similar preparations with no prior games being played, with the sides instead undergoing six-week training camps that featured some intra-squad trials which from all reports were played at a high intensity.
Match: Maroons v Blues Women
Game 1 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues Women
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Team News
Maroons: After making a late change to the line-up a day out for the game, rookie Tavarna Papalii is back on the bench, after been promoted to start at lock in a swap with Destiny Brill. With the team list now as submitted on Tuesday, Georgia Hannaway remains as 18th player. With reigning Nellie Doherty Medal winner Shannon Mato out of the series due to pregnancy, Keilee Joseph steps up to join Jessika Elliston as prop. The other major changes for the Maroons come in the backs, with centre Rory Owen and winger Jasmine Peters named to make their debuts, with Evania Pelite also out of the side to grow her family. Jada Ferguson, who can fill in as a forward and in the halves, has been named to debut from the bench. The experienced pairing of Ali Brigginshaw and Tarryn Aiken in the halves is set to be a key factor for the Maroons.
Blues: The Blues have no late changes, with Shaylee Bent remaining in the reserve. It will be a new-look front row for the Blues with both of last year's starting props Millie Elliott and Caitlan Johnston-Green expecting babies. New coach John Strange has handed debutant Ellie Johnston her opportunity, with the experienced Simaima Taufa moving in up front. Talented Eels fullback Abbi Church has been named in the No.1 jersey for her debut, while the other new faces are Roosters Jayme Fressard on the wing and Jocelyn Kelleher who comes from the bench. After claiming Dally M Centre of the Year honours in 2024, Tiana Penitani Gray will start at five-eighth alongside the recalled Jesse Southwell in the halves.
Match: Maroons v Blues Women
Game 1 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues Women
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Maroons is number 1 Tamika UptonFullback for Blues Women is number 1 Abbi Church
-
Winger for Maroons is number 2 Julia RobinsonWinger for Blues Women is number 2 Jaime Chapman
-
Centre for Maroons is number 3 Shenae CiesiolkaCentre for Blues Women is number 3 Jessica Sergis
-
Centre for Maroons is number 4 Rory OwenCentre for Blues Women is number 4 Isabelle Kelly
-
Winger for Maroons is number 5 Jasmine PetersWinger for Blues Women is number 5 Jayme Fressard
-
Five-Eighth for Maroons is number 6 Tarryn AikenFive-Eighth for Blues Women is number 6 Tiana Penitani
-
Halfback for Maroons is number 7 Ali BrigginshawHalfback for Blues Women is number 7 Jesse Southwell
Forwards
-
Prop for Maroons is number 8 Keilee JosephProp for Blues Women is number 8 Simaima Taufa
-
Hooker for Maroons is number 9 Lauren BrownHooker for Blues Women is number 9 Keeley Davis
-
Prop for Maroons is number 10 Jessika EllistonProp for Blues Women is number 10 Ellie Johnston
-
2nd Row for Maroons is number 11 Sienna Lofipo2nd Row for Blues Women is number 11 Kezie Apps
-
2nd Row for Maroons is number 12 Romy Teitzel2nd Row for Blues Women is number 12 Yasmin Clydsdale
-
Lock for Maroons is number 13 Destiny BrillLock for Blues Women is number 13 Olivia Kernick
Interchange
-
Interchange for Maroons is number 14 Jada FergusonInterchange for Blues Women is number 14 Jocelyn Kelleher
-
Interchange for Maroons is number 15 Sophie HolymanInterchange for Blues Women is number 15 Kennedy Cherrington
-
Interchange for Maroons is number 16 Makenzie WealeInterchange for Blues Women is number 16 Sarah Togatuki
-
Interchange for Maroons is number 17 Tavarna PapaliiInterchange for Blues Women is number 17 Emma Verran
Reserves
-
Replacement for Maroons is number 18 Georgia HannawayReplacement for Blues Women is number 18 Shaylee Bent
Match Officials
- Referee: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- Both teams have named four Origin newcomers in their line-up.
- The Blues have an edge in Origin experience, with 88 games to the Maroons’ 77.
- The Maroons will field 10 members of last year’s series-winning team.
- The Blues won last year’s series opener at Suncorp 22-12.
- The Blues will field seven members of the Roosters’ NRLW grand final-winning team of 2024.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
