Respectful rivalry deepens on eve of historic Origin series

After years of campaigning and a 1-1 result last year that left a "awkward and bizarre" feeling for both camps, the women finally get their opportunity to perform in a three-game series, with the players feeling the responsibility to perform well not only for their state but for their families, their fans and for future generations.

“Every time we play, it's making sure that you (put in your best performance) ... I've said this before, we come off the field and we just hope that our game's getting the recognition that it deserves," Brigginshaw said.

“We've got our families coming and we always have that support, but to know that Queensland is supporting us through that game, it, it's going to be huge.

"Every time we play, I think for both states, you just want to make sure that you're always ticking that box, ‘yep, that's a new record’, we've done that every single year and we plan on doing that for the rest of the series."

This year, the two states have taken different approaches to their preparation, with Maroons players involved in Queensland's statewide BMD Premiership competition, while Sky Blues for the most part undertook a seven-week training camp. Some NSW players, like Blues co-captain Kezie Apps, did both, flying up to play alongside her rival Origin captain with the Western Clydesdales.

“I've been able to play alongside Ali, she's been giving me a lot of hospital balls over my few games there,” Apps joked.

“But I came up and had a go at the Queensland competition, got a few games under my belt and played for the Clydesdales, it was an awesome experience.”

The two coaches backed their approach leading into the opening game saying they expected the quality of the match to be higher than the standard of the first Origin game last year where players came into camp underdone.

“I think the BMD Premiership has given us a good opportunity around the quality of the competition which has allowed some really good games to occur," Maroons coach Tahnee Norris said. 

“We've had so many NRLW players spread out throughout the whole competition and it's been such a tight series that it's enabled us to actually prepare really well.

“I think there will be a bit of a difference in Game One compared to last year.”

Hilder backed the hard work done in the pre-training camps to have her players ready to fire. 

“Obviously we didn't have any games; we have had a really good tough seven-week preparation and for me, I feel that that prep has actually being better than even the girls playing in the Harvey Norman competition last year," Hilder said.

"Some were playing, some weren't, we didn't know where they were or what they were doing, so being able to have them part of a pathways program and knowing what they are doing; the prep has been great and I am really confident that first game is going to be a lot better than last year."

While New South Wales entered camp with an injury concern to halfback Rachael Pearson, who will form a new-look halves pairing with Corban Baxter, Hilder dismissed concerns about her fitness, saying the pair had been preparing well together.

“There is no issue whatsoever with Rachael's calf, she’s ready to go,” Hilder said.

“If there was an issue, we wouldn't have picked her to be part of this team, so she's fully fit, completed every session and there hasn't been an issue at all.

“I'm really confident, they just complement each other really well, Rachael controls the game really well and has a great kicking game and then we've got Corbyn who is that running five-eighth, so they've been looking great together, working really well together and I'm excited to see them out in the field tomorrow night.”

With ticket sales projected to be more than 20,000 before kick-off, Game One is on track to be a new record for the women’s game, with the current attendance record being 18,275 set in Game Two at Townsville last year.