NSW co-captain Kezie Apps has backed club coach Brett Kimmorley to lead the Sky Blues to State of Origin glory if he pursues the vacant coaching role.
The position became available on Monday when Kylie Hilder stood down following a second-straight series defeat.
Kimmorley has emerged as one of the leading candidates for the role, with Roosters coach John Strange and former Dragons mentor Jamie Soward also reportedly in the mix.
NRLW players to watch in 2024: Kezie Apps
While the men's State of Origin coaching job has become a full-time position, the timing of the women's series means there is scope for an NRLW head coach to also lead NSW.
The series will run from May 1 to May 29, concluding prior to the club season's commencement in July.
Kimmorley coaches Apps at the Tigers, with the forward confident he can guide the Sky Blues back to a State of Origin victory if handed the role.
"We want the best coach for the position," Apps said. "It doesn't matter if it's a male or female, we want someone who's passionate and can bring the best out of us in a short campaign.
"[Kimmorley] would be great for the role but I don't want him to leave the Tigers so if he could do both that would be pretty cool. I don't know the logistics around that and how they work it out."
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Hilder has played a vital role in the growth of women's rugby league throughout the past decade, first as a player and then as a trailblazing coach.
The former hooker became the first woman to lead the NSW State of Origin side and helped lay the foundation for the next generation of players looking to transition to coaching.
The mentor's decision to step down came on the back of the unveiling of the Women's State of Origin schedule for 2025.
The contest will again be played as a three-game series, with Brisbane to host the opener on Thursday May 1.
Sky Blues v Maroons – Game 2, 2024
The Sky Blues will then have the major advantage of hosting games two and three in their bid to lift the shield for the first time since 2022.
The second match will be held at Allianz Stadium before a potential decider at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.
More than 25,000 fans braved torrential rain to fill the venue during the 2024 series, with another big crowd expected next year.
Allianz Stadium, on the other hand, represents a new frontier for the sport, with the ground to host its first Women's Origin match.
A big crowd will provide another indicator of how much women's rugby league has grown in the past few years, with Apps eager to play in front of a full house.
"Being in the middle of the city, hopefully we'll be able to attract a lot of people and a lot of fans to support us," she said.
"Being Game Two [and a live match], I feel like it will be a big crowd."
