Everything you need to know: Queensland Outback v NSW Outback

Another epic interstate battle will take place in Miles this Saturday with the resurrection of the rivalry between Queensland Outback and NSW Outback.

It will be the fifth time an equivalent men's interstate match has taken place, the first since 2011, while this will be the first of its kind for female rugby league.

Both matches will be available to watch live on Qplus.tv this Saturday, the women's at 11.45am and men's at 1.15pm.

The first Queensland Outback v NSW Outback match was played to mark the centenary of rugby league in 2008, with NSW defeating Queensland 26-20 in Winton, before Queensland Outback hit back in a return leg 36-26 in Warren, NSW in 2009.

The following year a NSW Country Seconds side touched up Queensland Outback 64-8 at Roma, while the last time they met in Uralla, NSW in 2011 the result again went in favour of the home side 48-8.

The men's game will be a battle for the Beetson-Gibbs Shield, named for outback rugby league pioneers in Queensland and NSW respectively - Arthur Beetson and Rob Gibbs.

It carries particular significance for Queensland Outback coach John Doyle, who enjoyed Beetson's support while at the Roosters.

"It's massive. For me personally, me and my wife we lived with Artie for about 34 months when I was at the Roosters," he said.

"So I've got a personal connection with and we loved him and we were so grateful and thankful for him, helping us supporting us and making life a lot easier for us.

"And then the continued support while I was there, that's just sort of what he was like, he loved it.

"He was always supportive of everybody and tried to make things easier for everyone.

"So to play this game in his honour, it's a massive, massive thing for me. It's an amazing opportunity for all the boys too."

The three-time Queensland Maroons utility and 74-game NRL player faces off with the clipboard against the 'Tingha Tornado' Nathan Blacklock, who played two Tests for the Kangaroos on top of his 142 NRL matches, predominantly with the Dragons in various forms.

Queensland Outback's players hail from as diverse locations as St George through to Normanton, while NSW players hail from roughly the north west quadrant of the state, from Lightning Ridge to Broken Hill.

The NSW women's side features player of the match for Mounties in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership grand final Matilda 'Tilly' Power, who has a development contract for the Sydney Roosters NRLW side for 2023.

Queensland's women were set to boast former Maroons and Jillaroos forward Heather Ballinger, but she was ultimately forced to withdraw through injury.

Central Queensland Capras BMD Premiership half Reeghyn Beardmore has been drafted into the side, coached by former Jillaroos and Queensland star Nicole Richards - the game at the home of her junior club Miles Devils.

Everything you need to know

What: Queensland Outback v NSW Outback - men's and women's

Where: Centenary Oval, Miles

When: 11.45am Women, 1.15pm Men

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

How they're shaping up

Men's

Queensland Outback coach John Doyle: "We don't really know what to expect from NSW, but we expect a tough game. We've just basically got to make sure that we're controlling our ball and completing our sets and getting good yardage and good field positioning and that's pretty much all. We've got some exciting young fellas on the team that have got some speed and stuff like that, so I'll try and create some space for those guys. I coached the team last year and we'd be lucky to have three guys from last year in there, so it's a new, fresh team and a new, fresh look and it's good for South West, Central West and Northern to have some new young blood and some new excitement and new incentives to get into this game. This game against NSW Outback, I think it's going to really pique everyone's interest to turn up to these carnivals and give their best."

NSW Outback forward Brendan Coffee: "It's a good opportunity, being from out the bush in Brewarrina, a small country town. It's amazing getting picked by NSW to go to Queensland and represent our state. We're going to run out tough, strong. We've got a bit of a potential there. It's a bit like a bit of a State of Origin feeling. I always wanted to represent my state and it's a good opportunity to do that now. It's unreal being a boy from 'Bre' and being able to follow in (Ron Gibbs) footsteps and play for two legends and get that shield and hopefully bring it back out west."

Women's

Queensland Outback coach: Nicole Richards: "We've got a pretty young enthusiastic side, plenty of talent there and we've got a scattering of a couple of older experienced players which will hopefully really help direct the girls around the park. We haven't got a lot of time together and due to the inexperience of some of the girls, we're just going to try to use a really simple game plan and just get everyone working as a team, just have those few common goals and be all about the one-percenters and the work ethic off the ball and that sort of stuff. It's nice just to give female rugby league players in the outback the opportunity to play against an interstate side. It's not an everyday opportunity for these girls. It means a lot to me to be the first coach to be able to coach this sort of match as well. I guess it doesn't matter whether it's Country/Outback or the actual State of Origin, there's a lot of passion there and there's always going to be that little interstate rivalry for everyone."

NSW Outback half Tilly Power: "I think it's an unreal opportunity for all the girls, especially with the distances we have to travel and it's big trip up to Miles. It's something different for the girls because there isn't a lot of rugby league out in the outback, but there's a lot of league tag and league is growing. I think it'll be great. I think we'll just be keeping it simple. Obviously we've never played together before so adapting to how we all play will be a little bit challenging, but I'm sure all the girls are open to that and I think we'll go quite well. It means a lot being a New South Wales person. You always want to beat Queensland so come Saturday, I think we'll be pretty fired up and I'm pretty excited for it."

Squads

Men's 

Queensland Outback

1. Adam Hughes - Longreach/Ilfracombe Tigers
2. Jobe Sivowale - Miles Devils
3. Tom McCoy - Wallumbilla/Surat Red Bulls
4. Jeke Tupa - Miles Devils
5. Ezekiel Thompson - Barcaldine Sandgoannas
6. Oliver Peak - Mitchell Magpies
7. Matthew York - Wallumbilla/Surat Red Bulls
8. Eoin Bowie - Miles Devils
9. Samuel Munns - Longreach/Ilfracombe Tigers
10. Christopher Gelhaar - Roma Cities Gladiators
11. Rakeem Rainbow - Normanton Stingers
12. Andrew Hart - St George Saints
13. Matt Eising - Chinchilla Bulldogs
14. Ereqe Nadruguvolili - Miles Devils
15. Jaykob Lankowski - Miles Devils
16. Shelldon Martin - Mitchell Magpies
17. Tasman Coombes - Normanton Stingers
18. John Wichman - Brothers Mt Isa

NSW Outback

Braydan Barnes - Menindee Yabbies
Owen Whyman Jnr - Wilcannia Boomerangs
Lisiate 'Keni' Talalima - Broken Hill Silver City
Aiden Orcher - Bourke Warriors
Hogan Shillingsworth - Bourke Warriors
Jordan Elwood - Bourke Warriors
Keenan Elwood - Bourke Warriors
Farren Lamb - Goodooga Magpies
Tristan Lamb - Collarenebri Bulldogs
Kaden Lamb - Goodooga Magpies
Michael Lake - Goodooga Magpies
Brendan Sweeney - Collarenebri Bulldogs
Logan Chown - Collarenebri Bulldogs
Matthew Button - Collarenebri Bulldogs
Brendan Coffee - Brewarrina Googars
Dylan Ciprian - Goodooga Magpies
Bailey Skelton - Broken Hill Silver City
Kade Fennell - Menindee Yabbies
Tom Langford - Menindee Yabbies

Women's 

Queensland Outback

1. Daniella Mudu - Emu Park
2. Amber Abell - Alpha Brumbies
3. Lucy Lloyd-Morgan - Wranglers Mt Isa
4. Chelsea Griffin - Wranglers Mt Isa
5. Giaan Green - Alpha Brumbies
6. Gabrielle Holder - Wranglers Mt Isa
7. Hannah Clarke - Wranglers Mt Isa
8. Tina Ah-One - Brothers Mt Isa
9. Nadia Hoad - Western Ringers/Longreach
11. Chelsea Page - Black Stars Mt Isa
12. Chontelle George-Clemments - Wranglers Mt Isa
13. Yasmin Crebbin - Wranglers Mt Isa
14. Shyniah Heness - Wranglers Mt Isa
15. Holly Callaghan - Western Ringers/Longreach
16. Tailah Page - Black Stars Mt Isa
17. Candice Page - Black Stars Mt Isa
18. Sharradha Rolland - Black Stars Mt Isa
Reeghyn Beardmore - St George

NSW Outback

Dot Mills - Wilcannia Wildflowers
Nellie Jones - Broken Hill Silver City 
Tori Canham - Coonamble Bears
Harriet Messner - Lightning Ridge
Hannah Carroll - Cobar Roosters
Hayley Andrews - Coonabarabran Unicorns
Tilly Power - Cobar Roosters
Delta Swan - Walgett Dragons
Tara Smith - Walgett Dragons
Maddie Masman - Baradine Magpies
Kimberly Wood - Lightning Ridge
Trudy Sharpley - Walgett Dragons
Jamarlia Orcher - Brewarrina Golden Googars
Channy Burgess - Coolah
Chantae Eyres - Brewarrina Golden Googars
Nickita Riley - Condobolin
Maddison Chapman - Dunedoo Swans
Kendra Bugmy - Broken Hill Silver City