Penitani Gray lands a new role in Blues squad
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Thirteen minutes was all NSW coach John Strange needed to watch to know Tiana Penitani Gray is ready to line up in the back row in next week's Women’s State of Origin opener.
It will be straight out of the frying pan and into the fire for the 30-year-old, who was thrown into the halves for last year’s series.
The Blues are desperate to prevail in the opening game at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle before the second and third matches are played in Queensland.
Teagan Berry has been named to make her State of Origin debut off the interchange, while fellow rookie Rima Butler was named in the extended squad and could come into the side closer to game day.
In a team with few shocks, the biggest surprise was Penitani Gray’s new role in the back row. Typically a centre, the veteran is set for a second new position in as many Origin series but Strange is confident she can break the game open for the Blues.
“I don’t look at footy players, I look at the physical attributes and the mindset they have,” Strange said. “If you sit down and put all those down on the list, she ticks every box to be an outstanding back-rower.
“We’ve seen her in the centres, she loves running lines, which is a courage thing not everyone has. She’s a really good communicator, which you need to be in the back row because in defence you need to communicate with your middle and your edge. Then she’s aggressive as well.
“I did the same with Yasmin Meakes when I coached her at the Roosters. She came to us from [rugby] sevens as a winger, I slid her in as centre. Then I said to her ‘one day I’m going to put you in the back row because you have all the characteristics and mindset.’ For Tiana it’s a no-brainer for me.”
Match: Blues Women v Maroons
Game 1 -
home Team
Blues Women
away Team
Maroons
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Entering the series as defending champions, Strange had the luxury of unveiling a largely settled team at an event at the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday afternoon.
Millie Elliott returns for her first elite match since having a baby in September, while Jocelyn Kelleher steps into the No.6 jumper and will partner Jesse Southwell in the halves.
Abbi Church starts at fullback, with Jaime Chapman and Jayme Fressard on the wing. Captain Isabelle Kelly and Jess Sergis will line up in the centres, while Keeley Nizza (nee Davis) will wear the No.9 jumper.
Church is in session
Penitani Gray’s new position was the major talking point at Wednesday’s event, the Sharks skipper having never started a game in the back row in her professional career.
The Blues have spent the past 6 weeks training as a wider squad to prepare for next week’s game, but it was until much later in the piece that the idea came to Strange.
Ultimately, a 13-minute stint in the position during an internal trial was all the coach needed to know Penitani Gray will thrive in the role.
“We were at the end of our block [when I had the idea],” he said. “I wanted to get Kezie [Apps] in the middle. The value Kezie will add in the middle, we’re going to need. She’s played there before and it gets her more into the game. She has a big frame, she’s powerful and she’s a competitor.
“It was a little bit of how can we get Kezie in there? But we also wanted to make sure we’re nice and strong in the back row. That’s when the thought started happening and I was thinking Kezie’s probably not going to be in the back row.
“We had some other girls that have trained well in our extended squad, with Shaylee Bent and my daughter Jasmine, but I wanted to give Tiana the opportunity in our trial, so it was only towards the back end of the training block that it happened.”
Berry’s debut caps a lengthy rise from junior talent to senior representative player, the outside back having starred for the NSW Under 18 team in 2019.
The 23-year-old is set to bring the X-factor off the bench and will use her speed to take advantage of tiring forwards.
Having made her NRLW debut for the Dragons as an 18-year-old in 2020, Berry’s journey to the Origin arena has taken slightly longer than many anticipated.
All gas no brakes as Berry gets two from long range
Kelly said there has been a noticeable shift in the youngster’s mindset during the Blues training camp and backed Berry to star in her new role.
“Teagan has been within our campaign for a number of years now and she’s always been right at the edge of getting a spot in the 17,” Kelly said.
“This year with the way she's training and pushing her way in the trials, she forced herself into a spot within our team. I was ecstatic for her. When you watch her play in the NRLW, she’s a key factor in that Dragons team and when she plays, they’re a much better side.
“She brings a lot of X-factor for us coming off the bench in whatever role she might play and she’s ready for the main stage. She really earned her spot.”
Blues unveil squad for Origin I
Dragons speedster Teagan Berry is set to make her State of Origin debut for NSW in next week's series opener in Newcastle, while vice-captain Tiana Penitani Gray has been named in the second row.
Westpac NSW Blues coach John Strange has selected 14 players from the team which claimed last year’s Ampol Women’s State of Origin series in his squad to face Queensland on April 30 at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The new faces include debutant Berry, who has been named on the bench, and former Jillaroos prop Millie Elliott, who returns after having a baby.
Sydney Roosters prop Rima Butler, who is in the extended 20-player squad, is also yet to play Origin.
The squad was unveiled by NSWRL Chair Carolyn Campbell at the Sydney Opera House with Strange, captain Isabelle Kelly and the squad all in attendance before heading into camp at Sydney Olympic Park.
Origin pathways graduate: Rilee Jorgensen
Other changes include Roosters utility Jocelyn Kelleher being named at five-eighth in place of Penitani Gray, with the Sharks captain moving to the back row alongside Yasmin Meakes and lock Olivia Kernick.
Jillaroos captain Kezie Apps was named on the interchange, alongside Berry, Eels forward Kennedy Cherrington and Knights hooker Olivia Higgins.
“I’m really excited about the squad that we’ve named, it’s a very well-balanced team from 1-17,” Strange said.
“The six-week training block was very enjoyable and bringing the players and staff together gave them a great opportunity to connect both on and off the field.
"I’m looking forward to camp starting and can’t wait to get to work to defend the Shield.”
Westpac NSW Blues squad
Coach: John Strange
1. Abbi Church (Parramatta Eels)
2. Jaime Chapman (Gold Coast Titans)
3. Jess Sergis (Sydney Roosters)
4. Isabelle Kelly (Sydney Roosters)
5. Jayme Fressard (Sydney Roosters)
6. Jocelyn Kelleher (Sydney Roosters)
7. Jesse Southwell (Brisbane Broncos)
8. Millie Elliott (Sydney Roosters)
9. Keeley Nizza (Sydney Roosters)
10. Ellie Johnston (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
11. Tiana Penitani Gray (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
12. Yasmin Meakes (Newcastle Knights)
13. Olivia Kernick (Sydney Roosters)
14. Olivia Higgins (Newcastle Knights)
15. Kennedy Cherrington (Parramatta Eels)
16. Kezie Apps (Wests Tigers)
17. Teagan Berry* (St George Illawarra Dragons)
18. Corban Baxter (Sydney Roosters)
19. Rima Butler* (Sydney Roosters)
20. Quincy Dodd (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
*Denotes yet to play for NSW
