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State of Origin Blues plot northern ambush in women's Origin ...

State of Origin Blues plot northern ambush in womens Origin
NSW coach Kylie Hilder is confident her side can fix the errors that cost the Blues in game one of State of Origin and has used the series' new scoring system as motivation ahead of Thursday's decider.
Jun 21, 2023, 03:00 AM ET

NSW coach Kylie Hilder is confident her side can fix the errors that cost the Blues in game one of State of Origin and has used the series' new scoring system as motivation ahead of Thursday's decider.

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With two games to decide a winner in 2023, aggregate score will determine who hoists the shield on Thursday should the Blues overcome a 18-10 loss in Sydney three weeks ago.

But the scoring system is the furthest thing from Hilder and the camp's minds.

"Not once have we discussed about the points and what we need to win by," the NSW coach said on Wednesday.

"We need to come here and we need to win. That's the mindset we've got. It'll just take care of itself."

The Blues celebrate a try during game one of the Women's State of Origin series. Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Hilder said her thoughts on the two-game series will be dictated by Thursday's result in front of an expected record crowd in Townsville.

Queensland have won their last two games on home soil and are seeking a Origin triumph for the first time since 2021.

"It's great that we got the two games. We probably played the worst that could have played in game one," Hilder added.

"The fact that we get an opportunity to come into another game and fix what we know we can fix and to play the style of footy that we know we want to play, is great.

"Ideally, we would love to have three games to have an outright winner in that regard."

After missing the opener through injury, the Blues welcome back Simaima Taufa and Tiana Penitani into the starting side, while barnstorming centre Isabelle Kelly is named to start after suffering a larynx fracture in game one.

Skipper Kezie Apps will also play her 11th Origin match for the Blues.

"It's very special," she told reporters on Wednesday.

"I'll definitely take that one into consideration when I'm running out of the field with my Blues sisters. It'll be another one that I'm very very proud of."

More than 15,000 fans are expected at Queensland Country Bank Stadium for the decider.

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