Shenae's top five Origin moments

For Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons centre Shenae Ciesiolka, there is nothing better than putting on the Maroons jersey.

“You’re not only representing your state, but your family, your friends, everybody… so, it means a lot,” Ciesiolka said.

“It’s always a privilege to wear maroon because you grow up watching State of Origin, cheering wearing the maroon.

“Putting the maroon colour on just give you a great sense of passion and pride in living in Queensland and being able to play for the state.”

Ciesiolka said growing up, State of Origin saw everyone in her household don maroon and cheer loudly.

“We used to get dressed up in our jerseys or any maroon gear and we’d sit in the lounge room, having pizza or hot dogs… always watching… we’d never miss it,” Ciesiolka said.

“My favourite player growing up was Matty Bowen… I absolutely loved him.”

Ciesiolka said it was unbelievable there were children sitting in their lounge rooms now watching her play like she watched Bowen.

“It's crazy to think that… I think also being a female, too, you never thought you would have had this opportunity to be where we are now and in the position that we in we are in,” Ciesiolka said.

“It’s a little bit surreal to think that you know, there's young girls or boys out there looking up to us playing now… it's really exciting and humbling at the same time.”

Shenae’s top five Origin moments

1.  Winning at Sunshine Coast Stadium in 2020

“My favourite Origin moment is obviously the first time I ever played State of Origin at Sunshine Coast Stadium… 2020 was my first year and we won, then 2021 we won 8-6. That’s number one for me because it was my first, realising a dream… growing up I never thought females would have the opportunity to play rugby league, let alone State of Origin, so seeing it become a reality, was a dream. Pretty surreal. We then went and watched the boys at Suncorp… it was the COVID year and the decider was an Suncorp… I remember we all had masks on, and the boys won that, so it was a good year.”

2. Winning 2023 with two games

“Winning the series last year, in what was the first time it’s ever been two games, was pretty cool. Even though we only won one of the games, we won the series.”

3. Matt Bowen’s intercept try

“I just love Matty Bowen. Growing up, I’d play rugby league on the PlayStation against my brother and was Matty Bowen all the time. He was always fast on the PlayStation. But more generally, I grew up loving him. I had a Cowboys jersey with Bowen and No.1 on the back. It’s pretty cool that I’ve met him a few times now and had a few conversations with him. Don’t act like a fan girl any more… we talked about footy, but secretly underneath, I was fangirling.”

4. Ben Hunt’s runaway try

“Dozer… what a try. At a critical moment in the game, he changed the whole game. It’s a moment that you’re sitting there, on the edge of your seat. That game was like that from the start, pretty intense. At that moment in the game, Ben Hunt’s try was so good. So much adrenaline.”