JILLAROOS and NSW gamebreaker Sam Bremner believes the women State of Origin team deserves to stand alongside the men on rugby league’s biggest stage.
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The Blues will host the interstate challenge showdown with Queensland at WIN Stadium on Sunday, a curtain-raiser to St George Illawarra crucial NRL game against Manly.
The junior divisions – under 16, 18 and 20 – currently hold the coveted place on the Origin undercard, a pathway which has helped develop a new generation of representative stars.
But, with Sunday’s game being shown live on television, Bremner believes the women’s game has earned its place to be part of future Origin arenas.
“I really hope so,” she said.
“I think it will just add to how exciting Origin is, having the best males and females in the state, playing against the opposition on the one stage at the one time.”
Preparing for her seventh interstate game, the Helensburgh Tiger Lillies product admits being more nervous than ever before, thinking about the chance to play in front of the Wollongong crowd. It was eight years ago, during the women in league round, Bremner first stepped out on to WIN Stadium, as part of an exhibition game at half-time in the NRL.
With the Blues defending the Nellie Doherty Cup, breaking through for the first time in 18 attempts, Bremner said the team is motivated to avoid the heartbreak suffered by the men’s Origin team last week.
“Absolutely,” she said.
“Specifically for me, watching James Maloney when he was interviewed after the game, he was completely shattered.
“I’ll do anything in my power and I know my teammates will, to not feel that way.
“We’ve had our fair share of losses and we’re not going to do that again.”
South Coast talent and NSW teammate Kezie Apps supported the NRL’s approach to developing a national competition, after the success of the AFL Women’s league this year.
Apps said the Tarsha Gale Nines, won by Penrith this year, is the first step in the development of women’s rugby league.
“I like what the NRL are doing, they’re trying to build from the grassroots up,” she said.
“It will be there eventually, the women’s competition.
“It’s going to be a slow process and we don’t want to just go out there and put something on and not be able to back it up.”
Apps is on the comeback trail after suffering a broken leg playing for Australia at the Auckland Nines.
The 26-year-old won the best player award when NSW won on the Gold Coast last year.
The Blues will host the interstate challenge showdown with Queensland at WIN Stadium on Sunday, with Bremner and Apps hoping to retain their crown.