Fan Fest to inspire Maroons ahead of historic clash

Author: Michael Hillier QRL Media
Timestamp: Thu 2 May 2024, 11:39 AM

The Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons’ path to the historic opening game of the first ever three-match women’s State of Origin series will begin alongside passionate fans in the heart of Brisbane.

Queen Street Mall will turn maroon on Saturday, May 11, just five days out from the highly-anticipated Suncorp Stadium opener between the Maroons and New South Wales Sky Blues.

Fans can snap a selfie with their favourite Maroons player and enjoy a range of exciting activations, with giveaways and prizes up for grabs.

The team will be located at the Queen Street Mall stage, across from rebel, from 9am until 11am.

Some lucky fans will even win tickets to the blockbuster clash on Thursday, May 16.

Maroons coach Tahnee Norris said the fan fest would give her team an enormous lift ahead of Game I.

“Events like this really do reinforce just how passionate Queensland fans are about their State of Origin team,” Norris said.

Maroons fan day in Townsville

“I know it spurs on our players just that little bit more, and they love giving back to the people who support them.”

For Norris, the standalone fixture is another sign of the growth of the game and progress that has been made since her time as a pioneering player in the women's rugby league.

“Hopefully everyone comes out and supports the girls because they're going to get a really good quality game of football,” Norris said.

“It's such a special event for our players.

“They don't get to play there very often and then to play Game I of Origin in the first ever three-game series, it’s exciting.

“This is the best women's game they'll get; this is like the cream of the crop of Australian talent and Origin is such a passionate game and these girls want to play in this game."