Blues coach John Strange has resisted the temptation to make any changes for next week’s third women’s State of Origin clash as his side looks to become the first NSW team since 2000 to claim a 3-0 clean sweep.
NSW clinched the trophy earlier this month with a thrilling 14-10 victory at Suncorp Stadium, and the disappointment of losing last year’s dead rubber played a part in Strange’s decision to stick with the squad that got the job done in Brisbane.
They’ll have to do it again in enemy territory with next Thursday’s match to be played on the Gold Coast, with Strange confirming the same 20-player squad via a YouTube livestream on Wednesday morning.
“The reason for that is that I feel like the girls that were selected for both games have done an awesome job,” he said.
“We want to make sure they have the opportunity to go up there and win the third game.
“So it’s about respecting the players that have worn the jersey and deserve to wear the jersey so there was no thought of changing (the team) this year. It was a case of going with the girls that need to be there.
“We were in a similar situation last year after two games, and we went up to game three in Newcastle and didn’t get the job done.
“Queensland were outstanding in that game and very desperate and wanted to make sure they got a win, so we fully understand that’s the attitude that they’re going to bring.”
Next week’s match will be veteran forward Kezie Apps’ 20th for her state, with the Blues determined to avoid a repeat of last year’s third game where they lost a tight one despite winning the first two matches of the series by 20 points.
“I felt like going into camp for game three (last year) that there was a lot of excitement from all the players, and so they should have been excited because they’d wrapped the series up,” Strange said.
“But we probably didn’t go in with the same intensity in game three that we did in games one and two, so that was a really good learning experience for all of us involved that if we were in the same position again that we would go in with a different mindset because we know Queensland don’t want to get beaten 3-0.
“We know the desperation they’re going to have, and we’re going to make sure we match that desperation and play good footy.”
The team will go into camp on Thursday before they head up to Kingscliff on Saturday where they’ll ramp up their preparations for a clean sweep.
NSW squad for game three
Abbi Church, Jaime Chapman, Jess Sergis, Isabelle Kelly, Jayme Fressard, Jocelyn Kelleher, Jesse Southwell, Millie Elliott, Olivia Higgins, Ellie Johnston, Kezie Apps, Yasmin Meakes, Olivia Kernick, Keeley Nizza, Kennedy Cherrington, Rima Butler, Teagan Berry, Quincy Dodd, Corban Baxter, Hannah Southwell
Originally published as ‘Need to be there’: Blues stick solid as Origin champions seek 26-year first