By Wayne Heming

Queensland women’s State of Origin coach Tahnee Norris believes up-and-coming back-rower Keilee Joseph has the potential to be the best forward in the world.

As a four-time World Cup representative and a powerhouse back-rower, Norris is more than qualified to make such a bold prediction about the 21-year-old Brisbane-born Joseph who’ll make her debut for the Maroons in Sydney tonight.

“She is pretty quiet but she is really hard-working,” said Norris of the young Sydney Roosters forward who has been training the house down during the team’s Gold Coast camp.

“She is still very young and has many years ahead of her.

“I honestly can’t wait to see her get stuck into it and take the first steps toward being the number one forward in the game.

“She works incredibly hard and she has definitely got the potential to achieve her goals”

Norris, who holds the honour of being the most capped Jillaroo with 32 appearances, including being named in three World XIII sides, said the Queensland side could not be more ready to take the title back off NSW.

“It’s been an outstanding camp. It’s probably one of the best camps I’ve been involved with,” she said after Queensland wrapped up their final preparations.

“The girls are primed and ready to go, they’re fighting fit and they’ve done some terrific work throughout the four-day camp.”

Norris is expecting Kiwi-born prop Shannon Mato to take the team forward with her power game against a NSW side bristling with its own power players in Millie Boyle, Kezie Apps, and Yasmin Clydesdale.

Boyle is one of the toughest, mobile forwards in the game but Norris is confident Joseph will acquit herself extremely well on the night.

Mato has been the life of the camp but Norris said when it came time to get serious, she would switch on.

“She’s a bit of a spark, the life of the party, in camp,” she said.

“On the field though she is a real leader through the middle.

“The girls all look up to her, they know what she brings with her power, passion, and aggression.

“She was dominant in last year’s World Cup and she’s really made that number 8 jumper her own.”

“The girls love playing with her.”

Meanwhile, Norris said a few of the girls were reduced to tears by a passionate and highly emotional Chris “Choppy” Close when he handed out the Maroon jumpers to the players this week.

“It was a pretty special presentation for all the girls and for me because Choppy had such a big influence on my career in Maroon,” she said.

“There were a few tears.

“It was special for them. They all want to wear the Maroon and do their very best for Queensland.

“Choppy was quite emotional and very passionate, but that’s how he rolls and it’s put the girls in high spirits.”

The first game will be played at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium tonight with a 7.45 pm kick-off.

The return game will be held at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium on June 22 with a 7.45 pm kick-off.

In the event of it being one game all, the winner will be determined by points aggregate with tries and goals to decide any countbacks.

It means regardless of who wins the first game, the second game will still be alive.

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