With the Under 19s State of Origin just a week away, excitement levels are peaking among the Steelers' 10 Tarsha Gale Cup stars who have earnt selection in the NSW squad.
Tarsha Gale Cup premiership winners Indie Bostock, Maria Paseka, Evie McGrath, Kasey Reh, Chelsea Savill, Hope Millard, Charlotte Basham, Ella Koster, Bronte Wilson and Sienna Yeo are the players a part of the Blues' 20-player squad.
They will face the Maroons on Thursday, June 20th at Leichhardt Oval.
All 10 were a part of Country's 26-18 extra time win over City in the NSWRL's City v Country fixture at Leichhardt Oval last month with Bostock nabbing a double.
Reh, Koster, Basham and Wilson are all members of the Dragons' NRLW squad this season with Bostock on a development deal for the second year in a row.
Having both earnt their first taste of NRLW action in 2023, Koster and Basham are excited to tick off another milestone in their rugby league journeys.
“It's something that I've worked for,” Koster said.
“It means everything. That's what you want at the end of the Tarsha Gale season to get that Country jersey and then that Blues jersey, so it's an honour.”
“It honestly means the world,” Basham said.
“It's another dream come true, especially doing it alongside my friends… I've played alongside them all the past couple of years through Tarsha Gale, City v Country, and now Origin, so it's pretty cool.”
Reh and Wilson, who will both be eyeing NRLW debuts this upcoming season, are excited to be representing their state alongside their Tarsha Gale Cup teammates.
“I'm really proud to be putting on that jersey,” Reh, who skippered the Steelers to their Tarsha Gale Cup Grand Final win, said.
“I think it's really special to have so many of our girls in the Origin side. I think that'll be a really big advantage for us. We all know how we play and they're just a really good group of girls, so I think that closeness off the field will show itself on the field.”
“We've all grown up playing together, so reaching such a high level alongside each other is pretty cool.”
Bronte Wilson
“It's pretty special to be able to play for my state,” Wilson said.
“Playing alongside the girls is really special too. We've all grown up playing together, so reaching such a high level alongside each other is pretty cool.”
Bostock, who will not be NRLW eligible until next season, is readying herself for an intense clash against what she anticipates will be a strong Maroons outfit.
“It's been my end goal, so it's kind of surreal that it's happening,” Bostock said.
“It'll definitely be on a whole new level. The physicality will definitely be different. I'm excited for it but, I can't lie, there's going to be some nerves. I've never played some of them before, so it's fresh and it's new. I'm excited.”
Tickets are still available for the clash, so be there to support the stars of tomorrow in the Under 19s State of Origin at Leichhardt Oval.
