FORSTER'S Kylie Hilder has been named in a 20-player Harvey Norman NSW Women's State of Origin rugby league squad to take on Queensland at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Friday November 13.
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However, she said it is 'unlikely' she'll be playing against Queensland. Hilder retired after the Central Coast Roosters' hard fought 16-10 win over North Sydney in NSW Women's Rugby League grand final last month.
"That was the plan,'' the 44-year-old said.
"But Andy (Patmore, the NSW coach) rang me on Sunday night and asked me if I was interested in being the 20th player. I was going to Queensland with the team as a blue shirt (trainer) anyway, so I said okay.''
The NSW squad has nine players in line to make their Origin debut.
"We have some young halves and I'll be working with them at training,'' HIlder said.
"But unless there's a change of plan or injuries, then I won't be playing. I'm looking forward to training with the team, helping them out and then concentrating on my blue shirt duties.''
Hilder was a member of last season's winning NSW team, after missing the 2018 match due to injury. She retired from the NRLW competition after playing nine for Sydney Roosters in the inaugural competition in 2018, but has continued to play in the NSW Women's Premiership with CRL Newcastle and then Central Coast Roosters.
CRL Newcastle won the premiership in 2019 before morphing into the Central Coast Roosters this year.
Hilder has had a coaching role with the Roosters in the NRLW for the past two seasons while she was also in charge of the side at the NRL women's nines in Perth in February.
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The NSW team will travel to the Sunshine Coast on Friday where they will enter a biosecurity bubble for a fortnight. They are staying at the Novotel Twin Waters Resort as they prepare for their game against the Maroons.
Old Bar's Holli Wheeler has been a member of the NSW squad for the past two years. However, a knee injury sustained while playing with St George Illawarra at the NRLW nines ended her season.
