Blues coach John Strange has resisted the temptation to make any changes for next week\u2019s third women\u2019s State of Origin clash as his side looks to become the first NSW team since 2000 to claim a 3-0 clean sweep. <\/p>\n
NSW clinched the trophy earlier this month with a thrilling 14-10 victory at Suncorp Stadium, and the disappointment of losing last year\u2019s dead rubber played a part in Strange\u2019s decision to stick with the squad that got the job done in Brisbane.<\/p>\n
They\u2019ll have to do it again in enemy territory with next Thursday\u2019s match to be played on the Gold Coast, with Strange confirming the same 20-player squad via a YouTube livestream on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason for that is that I feel like the girls that were selected for both games have done an awesome job,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to make sure they have the opportunity to go up there and win the third game.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe were in a similar situation last year after two games, and we went up to game three in Newcastle and didn\u2019t get the job done.<\/p>\n
\u201cQueensland were outstanding in that game and very desperate and wanted to make sure they got a win, so we fully understand that\u2019s the attitude that they\u2019re going to bring.\u201d<\/p>\n
Next week\u2019s match will be veteran forward Kezie Apps\u2019 20th for her state, with the Blues determined to avoid a repeat of last year\u2019s third game where they lost a tight one despite winning the first two matches of the series by 20 points.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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\u2019d wrapped the series up,\u201d Strange said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we probably didn\u2019t 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\u2019t want to get beaten 3-0.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know the desperation they\u2019re going to have, and we\u2019re going to make sure we match that desperation and play good footy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The team will go into camp on Thursday before they head up to Kingscliff on Saturday where they\u2019ll ramp up their preparations for a clean sweep. <\/p>\n
NSW squad for game three<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n