In exciting news for the game, the National Rugby League - in conjunction with Queensland Rugby League and New South Wales Rugby League - will stage an Under 18 Female State of Origin match this year.
This interstate match will be played as the curtain raiser to the Women’s State of Origin at North Sydney Oval on June 21.
The match is yet another progression in the female game, providing another representative pathway opportunity for girls to aspire to.
For the QRL, the match brings to fruition a number of years of development work, which began in 2017 with the Harvey Norman Under 15 Girls Emerging Origin Camp at the Runaway Bay Sports Centre.
The program expanded last year to include an Under 18 program, which allows girls to move through a clearly defined representative system.
"This is an exciting opportunity for girls and women in our game and is a key pillar to our female participation strategy," QRL chief operating officer Rohan Sawyer said.
"I look forward to being at North Sydney Oval to watch two great games of rugby league back-to-back."
Queensland Rugby League Women's Representative Pathways map
Earlier this year, the Under 15 and Under 18 players trained at the world-class facilities at the QAS, Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre and Griffith University, and worked with experienced coaches and high-performance leaders to enhance their skills.
The Queensland Under 18 Girls team will be in the same camp as the Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons as they prepare for the State of Origin match; it is a fitting representation of how the past, present and future will be joined together as one group – United in Maroon.
The Queensland Under 18 Girls team to be announced by QRL in coming weeks.
There will be a training session with an extended squad on May 11 in preparation for the Under 18 Female State of Origin match.
