Maroons Captain Ali Brigginshaw’s Candid Appeal to Senior Players Following Game One Loss

While Queensland might still be reeling from their initial defeat to the Blues, co-captain Ali Brigginshaw remains optimistic that her team can reclaim the series this Thursday.

The Maroons struggled to contain a dynamic NSW Blues side in the series opener, suffering a 32-12 loss at Suncorp Stadium.

Having failed to score in the last 35 minutes of the match, coach Tahnee Norris opted to make a single adjustment to her lineup, with Destiny Brill moving to the reserves to make way for Chelsea Lenarduzzi.

According to Norris, Lenarduzzi’s inclusion is expected to “strengthen the physical presence in the middle” for the Maroons, as she has made six appearances in the Origin arena since 2017.

Despite adding more experience to an already formidable Queensland squad, Brigginshaw acknowledged that the veteran players need to elevate their game.

“We recognise that we underperformed, particularly the senior players,” Brigginshaw commented.

“We should have made it a priority to tighten things up, and with our experience, it’s unacceptable to play like that in a Queensland jersey.

“We took that loss to heart, and I doubt we’ve fully processed it yet.

“I believe we’ll channel that fire into Thursday. There’s a lot we can learn from game one, so there’s no need to panic or drastically change the team; it’s about honing in on what we need to do.

“It feels as though we’re in a similar position to last year, and it’s just about us stepping up.”

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Queensland is no stranger to coming from behind in the second game, having staged an impressive comeback to secure the Origin shield last season.

However, with 11 errors and five penalties in the first match, Brigginshaw is committed to ensuring she and her teammates elevate their performance to honour their state.

“This week has been all about identifying areas for improvement,” Brigginshaw elaborated.

“It’s on us, and every individual must contribute. What we can do effectively has been a significant point of discussion.

“It’s about effort. We don’t need to conjure up any flashy plays or change our game plan. It’s about putting in more effort and being ready for the challenges ahead.

“Our debutants have had their first match experience now – they all performed exceptionally well.

“They’re more seasoned now, and we have a job to do.”