Day 5 - Game Day
Game Day; feeling calm and composed, ready to play. After breakfast we went for a team walk and coffee. It was then time for lunch and our jersey presentation. We had a Queensland State of Origin legend, Mick Croker present them to us. He told us to play with passion, pride and humility. It was just what we needed before the game. Onto the bus to travel to Leichhardt for our game. We were then played some video messages from the men's State of Origin team. That meant a lot.
Game time - After a nervous start we settled into our rhythm. A very tough NSW team gave it to us, but a couple of late tries saw us lead 16-0 at halftime. A solid second half saw us win 26-10. You beauty!
It was an unbelievable feeling that I will never forget.
It was then back to the hotel for our celebration. A great day, night and week. I now know what playing for Queensland means.
Thanks to our amazing staff and my wonderful teammates, you will always be in my heart.
Day 4 - Match Day eve
It was an early start today as we travelled to Sydney. We were on the bus at 7.30am and we drove to Brisbane Airport. Next we were onto the plane and off we went.
Unfortunately, we were running behind time as the plane was delayed due to the strong winds in Sydney.
However, we arrived at the Novotel Darling Harbour in time to grab a quick lunch before heading to Leichhardt Oval for our Captain’s Run. The Captain’s Run is the last session run by the captain just to put the finishing touches to our play.
Being at Leichhardt Oval was awesome and felt very big. Looking forward to seeing it full tomorrow.
After the session, we came back to the hotel where I caught up with my mum who is down to see the game.
I am so excited for tomorrow and know that the game will be hard and intense. I am ready for the challenge and ready to play for my state and family.
Well, time now for bed to rest up for the big game tomorrow.
Day 3
Day 3 of camp and we have had a full day. After breakfast, it was a video session to review our opposed session against the Emerging girls. We picked up a lot of pointers. Things we did well and others to work on. Before hitting the training paddock we were told that our family, friends and supporters would be able to watch the game live, with the QRL Live Streaming it on their website: http://www.qrl.com.au/interactive/live-stream.html
It is great that the NRL and QRL are right behind us and female rugby league. It was then out onto the paddock where another surprise awaited, with the girls from the Merrimac Rugby League Program there to meet us. Merrimac is the first school to have a girls rugby league program. We trained hard and then presented the school with a signed shirt to say thanks for the support. A quick recovery session in the pool was then held before going to lunch to refuel our bodies.
The first part of the afternoon was free time and I spent it with some others attempting to hit some golf balls (not successfully). It was then back onto the bus for a tour of the Gold Coast Titans Centre of Excellence. My dream if for female rugby league to have a super facility to help female players.
We then travelled to Burleigh for an opposed session with the Burleigh men. A great hit out and fast and high intensity, just what we needed to put the finishing touches on our preparation. Thanks guys, we appreciated your time and efforts.
It was then time to return back to camp to have a shower and dinner. At dinner we were joined by the only female NRL Club Chairperson, Rebecca Frizelle of the Gold Coast Titans. It was great to sit in a relaxed atmosphere and talk to a truly inspirational woman.
After dinner we returned to our Club Room where Rebecca addressed the team and gave advice on many topics including football and life. This added a great final touch to an awesome day. The team presented Rebecca with her own Female QLD rugby league jersey which she said would hand proudly beside her Queensland Men’s State of Origin jersey.
Time to go back to the room and pack ready to travel to Sydney in the morning.
Goodnight from Women’s Camp and look forward to filling you in tomorrow on our preparation for our game.
Day 2 - Wednesday, July 16
After a great night’s sleep, it was down to breakfast with the team.
We then went up to our team room for strapping and weigh-in and then onto the training paddock. We also welcomed the Emerging Players into camp and we had our morning training session together. It was a hard and intense session with a lot of skill and endurance work.
We were lucky enough to be joined by former state representative and Jillaroos legend Tahnee Norris who came to help with the session and share some insights into the game.
We then went upstairs and had a video session with the coaching staff. We then went off for lunch before heading inside for a stretching session with our training staff. It was great to release some of the tightness in our muscles. I also had a massage which was so good it made it hard to get back onto the training paddock.
In the afternoon we ran an opposed session against the Emerging Squad and it was a great opportunity to work on combinations. It is extremely promising to see the wonderful talent coming through in the women’s game and it will ensure that all players work hard to stay part of the Queensland team.
It was a great day training wise, but equally enjoyable to get off the field and into the shower. Over dinner we were joined by another recent retired state representative and Jillaroos legend, Nat Dwyer. After dinner, Nat spoke to her about her experiences and areas that we need to work on both on and off the field.
A very full, but tiring day and looking forward to tomorrow.
Day 1 – Tuesday, July 15
Day One of our Queensland Women’s Camp kicked off this morning. Whilst being a little nervous (but very excited) we all met in the dressing rooms of Suncorp Stadium.
After meeting up with old and new teammates it was time to get dressed and ready for our team photo. This is my first Queensland game and the enormity of it was realised when the Chairman of the Queensland Rugby League, Peter Betros addressed us all.
It was then out onto the hallowed turf where we had our team photo. It was great to see some media there and made the day a little more special. We also paused to show our support for the “Rise for Alex” campaign being held this weekend.
It was then time to get changed and onto the bus and travel to our home for the next few days, RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast. I must admit that it is extremely nice and I am feeling a little special. I am rooming with a mate, Talia Poutini-Lawrence.
We then hit the training paddock for our first session and it was great to work with the coaching staff and the players as we started to get into the reason we are here. We know that we will have an extremely hard game against NSW and need to prepare as best we can.
After training, a very quick shower than off to dinner. All of our meals have been prepared by a nutritionist engaged by the QRL to ensure that we fuel our bodies as best we can. Everything about the camp is professional and planned to ensure we are at our peak for game day.
We then went upstairs to our team room to discuss our goals for the week and the game. A very exciting, but tiring day and it time to get off to bed to be ready for tomorrow.
***Brittany Breayley plays for Norths Ipswich in the Brisbane and District Women’s Rugby League competition. This is her first time being selected in the Queensland Women’s team. We will follow her progress in camp in the lead-up to the Women’s Interstate Challenge match against NSW this Saturday at Leichhardt Oval.
