Latest news with #PenitaniGray
The Advertiser
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Harsh lesson NSW learned from women's Origin heartbreak
Vice-captain Tiana Penitani Gray admits NSW lost focus on their goal of State of Origin glory last year, as the Blues women vow not to repeat the same mistake in 2025. For the second year running, NSW began the women's Origin series with a commanding game-one defeat of Queensland in Brisbane, and are returning home in the box seat to close out the series. But last year NSW fluffed their lines in game two, giving up their half-time lead and falling 11-10 in Newcastle, before they were thrashed in Townsville in Origin III. Ahead of Origin II in Sydney this Thursday, the Blues are intent on making sure the Origin shield does not slip between their fingers for a second year running. "Everyone's really conscious of that, how we were feeling after last State of Origin's loss," five-eighth Penitani Gray told AAP. "No one wants to feel that again, so everyone's really locked in." The final 10 minutes of Origin II proved series-defining last year as Queensland came from behind and sealed victory when Lauren Brown iced a field goal in the driving rain. One of 10 players from last year's game-two loss who will line up on Thursday, Penitani Gray said NSW knew how to prevent history from repeating. "To make sure that doesn't happen again, what happened last year, we need to stay focused for the full 70 minutes," she said. "We really dropped our focus in the last 10 to 15 minutes in game two last year, and that's what took us to game three. "We probably had a lapse in concentration game one (this year), so we'll need to tidy that up." NSW are aiming for a more disciplined start to game two after the Maroons scored their first try on the back of a seven-tackle set last week, and their second following back-to-back penalties. "In the first half we had a lot of yardage piggybacks," hooker Keeley Davis told AAP. "We cleaned that up in the second half, but we'll definitely want to improve on that from the get-go this game. "We were still a little bit clunky in attack, although we had some really good moments. I think we probably started a little bit frantic, so we can definitely look to improve there too." Vice-captain Tiana Penitani Gray admits NSW lost focus on their goal of State of Origin glory last year, as the Blues women vow not to repeat the same mistake in 2025. For the second year running, NSW began the women's Origin series with a commanding game-one defeat of Queensland in Brisbane, and are returning home in the box seat to close out the series. But last year NSW fluffed their lines in game two, giving up their half-time lead and falling 11-10 in Newcastle, before they were thrashed in Townsville in Origin III. Ahead of Origin II in Sydney this Thursday, the Blues are intent on making sure the Origin shield does not slip between their fingers for a second year running. "Everyone's really conscious of that, how we were feeling after last State of Origin's loss," five-eighth Penitani Gray told AAP. "No one wants to feel that again, so everyone's really locked in." The final 10 minutes of Origin II proved series-defining last year as Queensland came from behind and sealed victory when Lauren Brown iced a field goal in the driving rain. One of 10 players from last year's game-two loss who will line up on Thursday, Penitani Gray said NSW knew how to prevent history from repeating. "To make sure that doesn't happen again, what happened last year, we need to stay focused for the full 70 minutes," she said. "We really dropped our focus in the last 10 to 15 minutes in game two last year, and that's what took us to game three. "We probably had a lapse in concentration game one (this year), so we'll need to tidy that up." NSW are aiming for a more disciplined start to game two after the Maroons scored their first try on the back of a seven-tackle set last week, and their second following back-to-back penalties. "In the first half we had a lot of yardage piggybacks," hooker Keeley Davis told AAP. "We cleaned that up in the second half, but we'll definitely want to improve on that from the get-go this game. "We were still a little bit clunky in attack, although we had some really good moments. I think we probably started a little bit frantic, so we can definitely look to improve there too." Vice-captain Tiana Penitani Gray admits NSW lost focus on their goal of State of Origin glory last year, as the Blues women vow not to repeat the same mistake in 2025. For the second year running, NSW began the women's Origin series with a commanding game-one defeat of Queensland in Brisbane, and are returning home in the box seat to close out the series. But last year NSW fluffed their lines in game two, giving up their half-time lead and falling 11-10 in Newcastle, before they were thrashed in Townsville in Origin III. Ahead of Origin II in Sydney this Thursday, the Blues are intent on making sure the Origin shield does not slip between their fingers for a second year running. "Everyone's really conscious of that, how we were feeling after last State of Origin's loss," five-eighth Penitani Gray told AAP. "No one wants to feel that again, so everyone's really locked in." The final 10 minutes of Origin II proved series-defining last year as Queensland came from behind and sealed victory when Lauren Brown iced a field goal in the driving rain. One of 10 players from last year's game-two loss who will line up on Thursday, Penitani Gray said NSW knew how to prevent history from repeating. "To make sure that doesn't happen again, what happened last year, we need to stay focused for the full 70 minutes," she said. "We really dropped our focus in the last 10 to 15 minutes in game two last year, and that's what took us to game three. "We probably had a lapse in concentration game one (this year), so we'll need to tidy that up." NSW are aiming for a more disciplined start to game two after the Maroons scored their first try on the back of a seven-tackle set last week, and their second following back-to-back penalties. "In the first half we had a lot of yardage piggybacks," hooker Keeley Davis told AAP. "We cleaned that up in the second half, but we'll definitely want to improve on that from the get-go this game. "We were still a little bit clunky in attack, although we had some really good moments. I think we probably started a little bit frantic, so we can definitely look to improve there too."
Perth Now
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Harsh lesson NSW learned from women's Origin heartbreak
Vice-captain Tiana Penitani Gray admits NSW lost focus on their goal of State of Origin glory last year, as the Blues women vow not to repeat the same mistake in 2025. For the second year running, NSW began the women's Origin series with a commanding game-one defeat of Queensland in Brisbane, and are returning home in the box seat to close out the series. But last year NSW fluffed their lines in game two, giving up their half-time lead and falling 11-10 in Newcastle, before they were thrashed in Townsville in Origin III. Ahead of Origin II in Sydney this Thursday, the Blues are intent on making sure the Origin shield does not slip between their fingers for a second year running. "Everyone's really conscious of that, how we were feeling after last State of Origin's loss," five-eighth Penitani Gray told AAP. "No one wants to feel that again, so everyone's really locked in." The final 10 minutes of Origin II proved series-defining last year as Queensland came from behind and sealed victory when Lauren Brown iced a field goal in the driving rain. One of 10 players from last year's game-two loss who will line up on Thursday, Penitani Gray said NSW knew how to prevent history from repeating. "To make sure that doesn't happen again, what happened last year, we need to stay focused for the full 70 minutes," she said. "We really dropped our focus in the last 10 to 15 minutes in game two last year, and that's what took us to game three. "We probably had a lapse in concentration game one (this year), so we'll need to tidy that up." NSW are aiming for a more disciplined start to game two after the Maroons scored their first try on the back of a seven-tackle set last week, and their second following back-to-back penalties. "In the first half we had a lot of yardage piggybacks," hooker Keeley Davis told AAP. "We cleaned that up in the second half, but we'll definitely want to improve on that from the get-go this game. "We were still a little bit clunky in attack, although we had some really good moments. I think we probably started a little bit frantic, so we can definitely look to improve there too."
West Australian
12-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Harsh lesson NSW learned from women's Origin heartbreak
Vice-captain Tiana Penitani Gray admits NSW lost focus on their goal of State of Origin glory last year, as the Blues women vow not to repeat the same mistake in 2025. For the second year running, NSW began the women's Origin series with a commanding game-one defeat of Queensland in Brisbane, and are returning home in the box seat to close out the series. But last year NSW fluffed their lines in game two, giving up their half-time lead and falling 11-10 in Newcastle, before they were thrashed in Townsville in Origin III. Ahead of Origin II in Sydney this Thursday, the Blues are intent on making sure the Origin shield does not slip between their fingers for a second year running. "Everyone's really conscious of that, how we were feeling after last State of Origin's loss," five-eighth Penitani Gray told AAP. "No one wants to feel that again, so everyone's really locked in." The final 10 minutes of Origin II proved series-defining last year as Queensland came from behind and sealed victory when Lauren Brown iced a field goal in the driving rain. One of 10 players from last year's game-two loss who will line up on Thursday, Penitani Gray said NSW knew how to prevent history from repeating. "To make sure that doesn't happen again, what happened last year, we need to stay focused for the full 70 minutes," she said. "We really dropped our focus in the last 10 to 15 minutes in game two last year, and that's what took us to game three. "We probably had a lapse in concentration game one (this year), so we'll need to tidy that up." NSW are aiming for a more disciplined start to game two after the Maroons scored their first try on the back of a seven-tackle set last week, and their second following back-to-back penalties. "In the first half we had a lot of yardage piggybacks," hooker Keeley Davis told AAP. "We cleaned that up in the second half, but we'll definitely want to improve on that from the get-go this game. "We were still a little bit clunky in attack, although we had some really good moments. I think we probably started a little bit frantic, so we can definitely look to improve there too."
News.com.au
30-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘She could be footballer of the year': Positional gamble not a concern as Blues move on from last year's State of Origin heartbreak
New Blues coach John Strange isn't using last year's heartbreak as motivation ahead of game one of the women's State of Origin series on Thursday where he's backed Tiana Penitani Gray to excel in her new role. NSW got the jump in game one last year thanks to a stunning long-range Jaime Chapman try, but the win in enemy territory didn't lead to series success, as the Maroons stole game two with a late field goal before they cruised home in the decider. It was a brutal way to lose the series after the promising signs they showed at Suncorp Stadium, but Strange – who replaced Kylie Hilder as coach – hasn't used the loss as fuel for this year's campaign. 'No we haven't. (The) main reason being I wasn't there, so it would be disrespectful for me to talk about last year as a coach,' he said. 'It's about moving forward. When we started our block, yes there were quite a few girls who were involved last year in that six-week block, but there were quite a few new girls. 'But I didn't see a point for me to dredge it up. Also there's nothing we can do about that. It's about moving forward.' The Blues have made several changes to the squad that lost last year, with Penitani Gray to partner young gun Jesse Southwell in the halves. Penitani Gray was named in the centres in the 2024 Dally M team of the year and led her Sharks to the grand final on the back of an outstanding NRLW campaign. She played all three games of last year's series on the wing but will switch to the halves where she's been tipped to thrive with a roving commission to play on both sides of the field. 'She could be footballer of the year,' her coach said. 'Tiana is a footballer. I know she has played predominantly in the centres and played a bit of fullback in her early days. 'She can pass both ways really well, she is a great runner and she understands the game. 'When we came into this training block, for me it was about having her train in a few different positions, as I did with a few of the girls, and see what worked and what fit for the team. 'But for me it is about getting Tiana more footy and getting her more involved. While she has the six on her back, I still want her to think about the running game as well, which is obviously very strong.' While Penitani Gray is new to the role, she'll have to go up against superstar Tarryn Aiken, who is coming off a monster year for the Roosters, Maroons and the Jillaroos. Strange coaches her in the NRLW and joked when he took the job in December that he hoped she'd be injured for the three-game series. 'I spoke to her a week and a half ago and I said this is the last time we have a chat,' he said, with the Maroons boasting one of the greatest spines ever assembled. 'But I said to her that the comment I made (was a joke) and I hope she is playing because we were having a bit of a laugh then. I would hate to think that she's been under a bit of an injury cloud, but she's right to go. 'I want their best players out there, and she is obviously one of the best in the world. She will be out there and we have to try and stop her.'
Perth Now
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Why NSW moved Penitani Gray for Origin opener
Tiana Penitani Gray could just as easily have been "footballer of the year" as centre of the year last season, says NSW coach John Strange explaining the positional shift set to shake up women's State of Origin. NSW forge into their Strange era in Brisbane on Thursday night, fighting to bounce back from a 2024 series defeat that looked highly improbable after a comfortable game-one win. Sydney Roosters coach Strange has named four debutants, axed incumbent halfback Rach Pearson and cut Kezie Apps from the captaincy for his first game in charge. But no selection call surprised more than the decision to move Cronulla outside back Penitani Gray to five-eighth, a position she has never played at either NRLW or Origin level. Strange has named two-time Origin representative Kirra Dibb, a half by trade, on his extended bench after she had appeared the most logical option to partner halfback Jesse Southwell. But the coach is confident in his call to shift new vice-captain Penitani Gray following an NRLW season that ended with selection at centre in the Dally M Team of the Year. "She could be footballer of the year. Tiana is a footballer," Strange said when asked to justify the call to move Penitani Gray from the outside backs. "I know she has played predominantly in the centres. She played a bit of fullback in her early days. "She can pass both ways really well. She is a great runner, and she understands the game." In the men's game, Brad Fittler, Jamie Lyon and Greg Inglis are among the storied players to have lined up in both the centres and at five-eighth during their premiership-winning careers. Strange tried Penitani Gray in different roles during NSW's six-week training camp before determining the No.6 jersey would give her the best chance of staying involved in the game. "For me it is about getting Tiana more footy," he said. "While she has the six on her back I still want her to think about the running game as well, which is obviously very strong." Last year's inaugural three-match series has not been a point of discussion since NSW touched down to continue preparations in Queensland on Saturday. But for the 10 players that kept their spot for 2025, the pain is still there. "It was hard," said captain Isabelle Kelly. "Obviously we haven't reflected on that too much this year which has been really good because it's a new year, new coach, a lot of new players, new-look team." The bookmakers have installed NSW as slight favourites for the series opener but Strange would not be drawn on his side's chances of a first-up win behind enemy lines. "Who is the favourite? I don't know," he said. "They are all quality players, the 17 we have named and 17 they have named, they're all at the top of the game."
