LeagueNews.co | Robbie Hamilton
Queensland Maroons forward Keilee Joseph is poised to step into a leadership role after the absence of Shannon Mato, the previous Nellie Doherty Medal winner, who will miss this year's State of Origin series due to pregnancy.
Additionally, Tazmin Rapana has announced her retirement from Origin, further opening up opportunities for Joseph, who is eager to leverage her experience as the Maroons look to gain momentum in the upcoming series opener, where she has been named at prop.
As Joseph enters her third campaign with the Maroons and approaches her fifth NRLW season, she is beginning to "find her voice in the game." In the past, she preferred to let her actions do the talking, but now she is ready to be more vocal on the field.
The preparation for this year's series has been unique, with no BMD Premiership competition leading up to the three-game series.
Last year, the Maroons triumphed despite dropping the first game at Suncorp Stadium, and Joseph hopes to contribute significantly as the team seeks to build on that success.