WHEN Daniel Lacey's NSW under 18 girls run onto North Sydney Oval on Friday night, they will create history as the first ever team to do so.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But Lacey's team, which will be captained by Steelers' Maddison Weatherall, won't let the occasion get the better of them, as they only have one thing on their minds - winning the match.
"I've been really impressed with how all the girls have approached the week," Lacey said.
"None of them have been overawed by the occasion and we are all ready to get the job done on Friday."
Lacey's troops went into camp at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence on Tuesday - a day which included a training run and opposed session against the Kezie Apps led NSW open women's team.
Wednesday involved a video session, as well as some work on their set plays and a number of team building exercises.
Then on Thursday, training just involved short and sharp drills, to keep the girls skills in check, as well as a final captain's run.
"The girls were ready to play on Wednesday," Lacey said.
"Having the whole camp at the centre of excellence has been great - everything is here and it's allowed me to just coach and allowed the girls to just focus on the task at hand.
"As well as getting the girls prepared for the game, I also want them to leave the camp with better skills than when they walked in - the aim is for all these girls to one day represent the open's team."
As much as Lacey believes his team, featuring Stingrays of Shellharbour's Teagan Berry and Rhiannon Tungai, he knows this is the biggest game of all of their careers.
"There is no bigger honour than representing your state," he said.
"The girls can just feel how special it is in camp, as there is just so much talent across the board - it's scary.
"To ensure the girls remain calm, I've shown them all breathing techniques that I used with the Illawarra Steelers this year - it's all about taking the emotion out of the game."
Upon reflection of the game of women's rugby league, Lacey is still pinching himself - but he knows this is only just the beginning.
"If someone had told me five years ago that we would be having an under 18s State of Origin game, I would have laughed at them," he said.
"The game has just grown so quickly - it's great.
"We even had Tasrha Gale hand out the jersey to the girls, which they all absolutely loved - the girls faces all lit up with excitement when they got their first sky blue jerseys.
"It's now our chance to etch our names in the record books by becoming the first ever winner's of this historic match.
"I know if play to our structures through the middle and give the outside girls some space, we will have a very good chance of winning -
"We done all the hard work to prepare for Friday, so if we do win, it'll make it all the more satisfying."
NSW under 18s side: 1. Tess Staines, 2. Teagan Berry, 3. Jaime Chapman, 4. Mikayla Kidd, 5. Zali Fay, 6. Emily Curtain, 7. Tiana Graham, 8. Maddison Weatherall, 9. Rhiannon Tungai, 10. Filomina Hanisi, 11. Olivia Kernick, 12. Caitlan Johnston, 13. Mareva Swann, 14. Janaya Bent, 15. Eleni Amone, 16. Sophie Curtain, 17 Joeli Morris and 18. Olivia Vale.