Westpac NSW Blues Women’s captain Isabelle Kelly says she relishes the chance to lead the team at next week’s opening Ampol State of Origin match at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium (Thursday 1 May).
She has shared the captaincy in 2023-2024 with Kezie Apps, who is the most capped True Blue with 14 games for her state.
“Kezie is obviously someone who has been in this side a very long time and she’s someone I’ve always looked up to and have learned a lot of captaincy traits off,” Kelly said.
“The last two years I’ve been co-captain with Kezie and that’s been something truly unique to be able to experience that together.
“This year it’s a different sort of role for me but I love leading, and I love leading by example, and doing the best for my teammates.
“That’s exactly what I’m going to do - I’m not going to change who I am.”
Westpac NSW Blues Women’s head coach John Strange today named his Sydney Roosters premiership-winning captain and 2024 RLPA Players’ Champion in Kelly as skipper for this year’s three-game series.
Vice-captain will be Tiana Penitani Gray, who was Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks captain in last year’s NRLW Grand Final loss (32-28) to the Roosters.
Kelly says there is no lingering feelings over the result from last October. The pair played alongside each other for the Jillaroos at last October’s Pacific Championships and the Women’s Test against England in Las Vegas in February.
“Tee and I are very close friends,” Kelly said.
“I have so much respect for what she’s been able to do with the Sharks and to have her next to me is wonderful.”
Meantime, Strange said each player in his Game One team knew they had to perform to keep their spot.
He has named four debutants in his 17 – Abbi Church (Parramatta Eels) at fullback, winger Jayme Fressard (Sydney Roosters), prop Ellie Johnston (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks) and utility Jocelyn Kelleher (Sydney Roosters).
“For me it’s just about picking the best players,” Strange said after the NSW team announcement at the Sydney Opera House today.
“We had an extended squad of 30 based on the form from last year (in the NRLW) and then it was up to the girls to see how they trained and how they trialled.
“We’ve got four debutants in there and I probably didn’t think they’d all be in there to be honest with you before we started training, but they’ve all forced their way in.
“They had that competitive mindset and if you want to be at this level you need that.”
But Strange warned he expected his players to keep up the standard set over the past two months.
“The girls who have been picked for Origin I have got to perform to keep their spots because there’s some exceptional players in our squad of 30 who have missed out,” he said.
“And they know that; they know they’ve got to respect the jersey.
“I’ve been really open with the girls,” he said.
“If we lose Game One it doesn’t mean we’re making changes, but also if we win it doesn’t mean we’re not making changes.
“The team is picked on every individual doing their role.”
