Queensland halfback Lauren Brown isn't concerned that the Maroons enter the 2026 women's State of Origin as underdogs, with the series opener set for Thursday night in Newcastle. The Maroons have undergone a significant transformation, featuring a new coach, a revamped halves pairing, and as many as five debutants eager to test New South Wales' dominance of the women's shield.
Radical Reset for Queensland
Queensland's greatest player has been left out, and reinforcements have been brought in from across the Tasman. The side boasts a new-look halves combination, multiple debutants, and a new head coach. Against the reigning champions New South Wales, who secured the shield with a comprehensive victory in 2025, the Maroons have essentially started from scratch. New coach Nathan Cross is busy reimagining the team's approach, as if heading back to the drawing board entirely.
Halfback and vice-captain Lauren Brown acknowledges that the northerners are the outsiders for the clash in Newcastle. "The Blues have strike all over the park, they're a very classy team, and they've had the luxury of playing together for a while, so they have those combinations from previous campaigns and from club land as well," she said. "But we're just really focusing on what we do and making sure what we do is right, cancelling out all the outside noise and focusing on our Maroon 'little bubble', and go from there."
Changes in Leadership and Personnel
The Maroons' bubble looks different this year. Ali Brigginshaw, co-captain in 2025 alongside the now-promoted Tamika Upton, has retired from Origin after being benched in the dead-rubber third game. Although Brigginshaw will no longer take the field, the 36-year-old has remained connected with the squad in the final year of her playing career. "We are missing her, but it's also a new campaign," Brown said. "She's always messaging me, so I know she's always a phone call away if there's anything I need."
In some ways, that third match last year in Newcastle, won by the Maroons 18-14, provided the starting point for this year's assault on the shield. The skilful Brown was redeployed as the No. 7 and will again be responsible for the Maroons' attack on Thursday. Unfortunately, her halves partner from last year, the electric Tarryn Aiken, is out with a serious knee injury, opening the door for debutant Chantay Kiria-Ratu. The Sharks player was a rookie at the Titans in 2023 alongside Brown, and they have quickly rekindled their connection. "She just brings this really calm, cool composure on the field and obviously she's got an incredible kicking game which will be a huge asset for our team," Brown said.
New Faces and Eligibility Changes
State of Origin eligibility changes have paved the way for New Zealand forwards Brianna Clark and Otesa Pule to be part of the Maroons squad. Clark was involved in Origin before committing to the Kiwi Ferns, but Pule is in line for a debut alongside winger Phoenix-Raine Hippi. Ivana Lolesio and Destiny Mino-Sinapati are the other Queenslanders yet to play in Origin, but they have been named outside the top 17. Brown said the trio of Hippi, Lolesio, and Mino-Sinapati have been "incredible assets" in training: "I feel like they came into our pre-series camp and they set the bar and then they just kept raising it."
Cross, who is the Dragons NRLW coach and a former Maroons assistant, replaced Tahnee Norris ahead of this series. He has brought the players in for weekend mini-camps, while his NSW counterpart John Strange has had the luxury of six-week blocks with his players, most of whom are based in Sydney.
Blues Also See Changes
The Blues captain, Isabelle Kelly, leads a more settled side, though one not without changes. Despite her success as a powerful five-eighth in last year's series, Tiana Penitani Gray has been shifted to second row. "I'll have to give Tiana a shout-out, learning a new position and absolutely dominating in training," Kelly said. The versatile Jocelyn Kelleher will line up at No. 6, but Strange played down the change. "I know people see numbers on the back and think that they've got to fit into a certain slot, but that's not how I coach," he said. "I moved her from the wing to five-eighth last year, she did a great job. This year she's going to be wearing the No. 11 on her back, but she'll be doing a similar role to last year, so for me it's about looking at the characteristics of the player and getting their strengths out on the field."
Both Kelly and Strange took the opportunity on Wednesday to highlight the promise of Teagen Berry, the Dragons fullback who is in line to make her debut off the bench. "We've got 'Flash', Teagen Berry, who's also come in who I'm just so excited for her to debut," Kelly said.
Origin's Unique Place in Calendar
With the NRLW season more than two months away, the Women's Origin series still occupies an unusual place in the calendar. Players must rely on training to reach the peaks expected by a demanding audience whose appetite for women's rugby league continues to grow. Kelly, who has played for the Blues for a decade, said the players will be up for it, and the rush of Origin never goes away. "It never changes, you're always nervous, you've always got that feeling of adrenaline."
