The last time we will talk': Aiken no stranger to new Blues coach

Tarryn Aiken told her NRLW coach John Strange that she would be fully fit for Thursday night’s Origin opener as the Maroons superstar and new Blues mentor agreed not to talk again before fulltime.

Strange, who last year guided Sydney Roosters to premiership glory with Aiken at the helm, revealed that his star NRLW playmaker had been under an injury cloud in the lead up to Origin.

However, the Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons five-eighth insisted she had no fitness concerns before going into camp for the State of Origin series opener at Suncorp Stadium.

“I spoke to her probably a week and a half ago and I said, ‘right, this is the last time we are going to have a chat,” Strange said on the eve of his first match as Westpac NSW Blues Women’s coach.

“She has had a bit of an injury cloud, but she assured me that she is fine to go and she will be ready for the Queenslanders.

“I want their best players out there and she is obviously one of the best in the world so she will be out there, and we have just got to try and stop her.”

For the pair, who have enjoyed premiership success together at the Roosters in 2021 and 2024, it will be the first time they have gone head-to-head.

Those who have played under Strange speak highly of his coaching nous, understanding of how to develop a positive team culture and ability to get the best out of each player.

Aiken is the superstar who won almost every team and individual trophy on offer in 2024.

The Roosters, Maroons and Jillaroos playmaker was involved in premiership, Origin and international victories, and win the Karyn Murphy Medal as player of the NRLW grand final and the IRL Golden Boot.

Craig Bellamy found it difficult coaching against Storm stars Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis and Cooper Cronk when he was in charge of NSW from 2008 to 2010, but the circumstances are different for Strange.

Along with Queensland debutant Tavarna Papalii, Aiken will be going head-to-head with not only Strange but six Roosters team-mates in the NSW side – captain Isabelle Kelly, centre partner Jess Sergis, winger Jayme Fressard, hooker Keeley Davis, lock Olivia Kernick and bench utility Jocelyn Kelleher.

“I guess that's just the spirit of State of Origin, it's mate versus mate,” Aiken said.

“It’s obviously a bit different playing against them, but at the end of the day, I think that's just what the game's about and I guess I'll be going up against them in a Queensland jersey, so I’ll probably take it more as a personal challenge.”

Papalii added: “It’s like the promo say, ‘mate versus mate!’. We made it a team first kind of thing at the Roosters, and out there it will be a battlefield, but I think once you come off, it's still that light-hearted appreciation and love for your mates”.

The 19-year-old is one of eight debutants – four from each side – in the series opener, including Fressard and Kelleher, and after playing in last year’s grand final win she came off age in the Pacific Championships by helping Samoa to claim a berth in the 2026 World Cup.

Maroons coach Tahnee Norris had initially picked Papalii on the interchange but she is set to make her Origin debut at lock in a late switch with Fetū  Samoa team-mate Destiny Brill.

“That that was probably the biggest year I've had of learning, I got chucked into a lot of different positions and a lot of different scenarios,” Papalii said.

“Just like I've got faith in Tahnee, Strangey is also a coach that I have a lot of faith in. I trust him as a person, as well as a coach, so I kind of had full faith in him to lead me to where I needed to go.

“I think there were times where there was tougher conversations that him and I had to have, but once those were done and dusted, I think it showed in the growth that I had and I felt a lot more confident.

“I felt like those basics I was nailing and then being able to take that into like the Samoan team and spread that knowledge to those girls.

“It was something I was super grateful for, and I didn't realise until I had to move on and show what I have to bring to a whole different set of coaches and players.”

With Aiken (eight Origins) and evergreen Ali Brigginshaw (17) in the halves, superstar Tamika Upton (8) at fullback and match winner Lauren Brown (6) at hooker, the Maroons believe their more settled and experienced spine combination will give them an edge.

In comparison, Blues fullback Abbi Church is on debut, while five-eighth Tiana Penitani Gray has only worn the No.6 jersey on one occasion each for Tonga (2023) and Australia (2024) and teenage halfback Jesse Southwell has been recalled after playing two Origins in 2023.

“Tiana is a footballer, I know she has played predominantly in the centres and she has played a little bit of fullback in her early days but she has got great skills, she can pass both ways really well, she is a great runner and she understands the game,” Strange said.

“For me it is about getting Tiana more footy and getting her more involved. While she has got the No.6 on her back I still want her to think about her running game as well, which is really strong.”