Rugby league women ready for first State of Origin

After 19 years of contests labelled as Interstate Challenges, teams representing Queensland and NSW will tonight play in first ever women’s State of Origin fixture.

To be played at the North Sydney Oval, the fixture being granted State of Origin status is seen as a huge boost for women's rugby league.

Long-time NSW captain Ruan Sims has fought long and hard for equal recognition with the men, telling the ABC “it's so exciting and I know all of the girls that have played in the past, and the current players, they all play the game like it's Origin and it always has been Origin for us.

"But to have the accolade of that title being applied to the game is a massive step forward for us because it gives young girls watching the game something to aspire to."

Serve as a prelude to the launch of the Women's NRL later in the year the fixture will get unprecedented live television coverage featuring on free-to-air televison in a prime time slot.

Annoucing the fixture in April, NRL Chief Executive Todd Greenberg said the match would be another highlight for women's rugby league, stating “anyone who has witnessed past matches between these two States knows the incredible skills and sheer determination to win that both teams display.”

The match is being supported by the Australian Government's Girls Make Your Move campaign.

Image: Captains Karina Brown and Maddison Studdon will lead their teams for the first State of Origin match. Courtesy of NRL.  

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