BEGA'S Kezie Apps will once again captain the NSW Blues, while Cobargo's Millie Boyle fresh off an NRLW premiership will provide the mainstay of the front-row.
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There were some concerns for Apps following a medial injury in the Dragons NRLW loss to Boyle's Broncos, but the Bega second rower said she was on the road to recovery and was confident to be match fit.
"Im just ticking all the boxes to get running next week and I'll join the team for training hopefully a week out," Apps said.
Coach Andrew Patmore has named a 20-strong squad including nine debutants as NSW looks to secure a trifecta since the competition was officially dubbed the State of Origin in 2018.
Apps captained the 2019 squad to a 14-4 win, where Boyle made her debut and was the leading metre-eater for the Blues.
This year's clash will be the first to run north of the border since the name change.
"It's exciting to play in Queensland, it's a different challenge for us, but the Maroons have had that challenge in Sydney over the last two years so to verse them in front of their home crowd, we're up to the task," Apps said.
"We know how passionate Queenslanders are so going into their territory will be different from going to North Sydney Oval, which has been awesome for us."
Apps said it would be great to have familiar faces like Boyle in camp and knew she could rely on the Broncos front rower.
"I'm really excited that Millie is back in the squad after dominating the NRLW - she's a workhorse and just goes all day," Apps said.
Meanwhile, she said nine debutants in the squad was also a thrill and a testament to the hard work of players - particularly given the challenges of COVID-19.
"It's such a positive thing for women's rugby league to have all this new talent being recognised and it's a big testament for all the girls working hard, especially through covid," she said.
While the Blues are welcoming some emerging talent, the Maroons have also not slouched with their picks this year and Apps said her squad are up to the challenge.
"It's the best against the best, so it's going to be a tough battle playing the best of Queensland.
"It's different footy - it's faster and the toughest game you'll play.
"You've got to grind, but you also have to enjoy it because it just goes by so fast."
The Blues will isolate for two weeks from Friday when they go into camp at the Twin Waters Resort on the Sunshine Coast - the same home base Dale Finucane's Melbourne Storm has operated from for the past five months.
"Dale did message me and asked if that's where we'll be staying - he said it's really nice so I'll take his word for it.
"They [Storm] won the premiership so hopefully their winning ways will rub off on us to beat Queensland," she adds with a laugh.
Harvey Norman NSW Women's squad: Kezie Apps (Helensburgh Tigers), Shaylee Bent (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Millie Boyle (Burleigh Bears) , Kennedy Cherrington (South Sydney Rabbitohs) , Keeley Davis (Cronulla Sharks), Quincy Dodd (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) , Filomina Hanisi (Wests Tigers), Kylie Hilder (Central Coast Roosters) , Melanie Howard (Central Coast Roosters) , Isabelle Kelly (Central Coast Roosters), Corban McGregor (Cronulla Sharks) , Yasmin Meakes (Central Coast Roosters), Brydie Parker (Central Coast Roosters), Shanice Parker (North Sydney Bears), Tiana Penitani (Cronulla Sharks), Jessica Sergis (Helensburgh Tigers), Hannah Southwell (Central Coast Roosters), Simaima Taufa (North Sydney Bears), Sarah Togatuki (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) and Botille Vette-Welsh (Wests Tigers).
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