Karyn Murphy has enlisted the help of a Queensland women's legend with Jo Barrett joining the Titans coaching staff for the 2023 season.
A multiple title-winning representative with both the Maroons and Jillaroos during her playing days, Barrett has recently been managing and mentoring the Queensland Women's Origin team to success, as well as being a regular voice on Channel 9 and Fox League's NRLW coverage.
A lifelong friend of the Gold Coast NRLW coach spanning back to the duo's early days on-field, the two-time Rugby League World Cup winner can't wait to reunite with her former teammate.
"I remember many, many years ago when I first came into rugby league, I was playing for the Toowoomba Fillies and Murph was captain of Ipswich Brothers... her reputation preceded her so I certainly knew who she was," Barrett reminisced.
"Not long after that, we were playing for Queensland together, so when I debuted, she was my captain and then we played together for the Jillaroos.
"We've had a really long history of rep footy together and I finished my career with Souths, so we were playing week-in, week-out for the better part of about three years of my football career.
"We have a longstanding friendship and are teammates, and it's really exciting... we've worked a bit with the Queensland team together over the years when she was the assistant coach and I was managing, so to be back working together is really special."
In 2019, Barrett shared that it was Murphy who got her back into the game after injury and work commitments way back in 2008 - who would've thought 15 years later it can be said the situation is much the same, when the call was made from the Titans coach to see what she was up to.
"I think [our close friendship] is the reason... just having a conversation with Murph and the opportunity is why I'm here," Barrett said.
"I'm taking some long service leave from teaching so it's just worked out beautifully.
"Many years ago, I was a development officer here on the Gold Coast in 2008 and 2009, so to be back on the Gold Coast and around women's footy is a really big privilege.
"Especially given it's really nice to see how far the women's game has grown, but also the Titans as a club and their high performance program.
"To see where the women's game is at now, particularly down here on the Coast is just really exciting for Queensland rugby league."
Match: Titans v Cowboys
Round 1 -
home Team
Titans
5th Position
away Team
Cowboys
6th Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Joining the coaching ranks as a mentor for the playing group, Barrett hopes that she can lighten the load for the Titans coaching staff in any way that's needed, thanks to her countless years of representative experience at both Origin and International level.
"I'm going to support Murph where I can... not specifically with coaching because she's got all the staff around her for that, but certainly in terms of mentorship and leading the girls off the field and on the field to a degree," she said.
"Plus also, if there's any way I can help the girls get a little bit more comfortable with commitments away from playing, like media and appearances and I'd also love to help tell the stories of the players behind the Titans team."
She joins former Queensland teammate Deanna Turner who also is part of the Titans coaching staff again in 2023.
