South Sydney Rabbitohs women's team coach Danny Allende is extremely proud of the five Rabbitohs players who will be donning an NSW Blues jersey next Friday night.
Red and Green stars Maddie Studdon, Lavina O'Mealey, Rebecca Riley, Taleena Simon and Nakia Davis-Welsh all feature in the starting 13 for NSW and their club coach couldn't heap enough praise on them.
"I'm very proud and to have five out of the one club playing State of Origin, it's amazing the girls have deserved it."
"Maddie has had an incredible season she deserves everything she's gotten Taleena is a newcomer but she leads the try-scoring this year.
"The girls Nakia, Lavina and Rebecca they've been there and done that and since they've been there they've won they've got a proven track record."
Allende gave particular high praise for halfback Studdon, who became the second Rabbitohs player to be named an Origin captain this season.
"Unbelievable what can you say she deserves it, she has worked so hard," Allende said.
"Her defence has been outstanding this year she's worked on the little things in the preseason she didn't stop training and the rewards are there to see.
"She was great up in the Australian champs, she's turned up to every game for Souths and played hard, I can't fault her."
After succumbing to their first loss of the season the Cardinal and Myrtle have the opportunity to reset the batteries ahead of their run into the finals.
While they still sit top of the table and fancy themselves a spot in the finals, Allende insisted his side need to take each game week by week as they get to the pointy end of the competition.
"I know it's an old cliché taking each game as it comes but we can only focus on our game against Canterbury at Belmore," said Allende.
"We should just be channelling all our energy into making sure we get that right, finals will come if we work hard so that's all we're concentrating on."
