Titans playmaker Lauren Brown has shared her desire to get back in the Origin arena after choosing to become a firefighter instead of representing the Maroons in 2023.
Turning down the chance to play in the ultimate state rivalry last year, instead completing her training to become a fully-fledged member of the Fire and Rescue Service, the 28-year-old has put herself back into contention to regain her spot and got one step closer after being named in the extended squad for the upcoming series.
With Game I at Suncorp Stadium now only just over two months away, Brown has used the dream of being back in Maroon to train even harder in order to be at the Cauldron for the history-making series commencing on May 16.
"It’s a huge motivation. You never take Origin for granted and it’s one of my favourite games to play in," she said.
"I’m definitely working really hard to get into that 17 because the girls did incredibly well last year and I was super proud form the sidelines, so my mission is now to edge a way into the team and get a spot."
A further incentive for the former Origin hooker is the series expanding to three games - something that was put on the agenda after the bizarre ending to last year's second game in Townsville that resulted in New South Wales winning but Queensland claiming the series.
"It’s good because everyone thought after two games last year, it was a bit of a weird feeling [at the end]," Brown said.
"It’s awesome to have the three games and make it feel like a true Origin, three-game battle."
With spots set to be hotly-contested in the upcoming BMD Premiership ahead of the series opener, the Gold Coast star isn't expecting to be a walk-up start despite her Jillaroos selection, with the Maroons having established playmakers Tarryn Aiken and Zahara Temara in the halves and Destiny Brill and Emma Manzelmann filling the hooking duties.
It's something Brown relishes coming back into the representative setup, knowing it only will enhance their chances of retaining the shield after their series victory in 2023.
"Competition is healthy and it’s only going to drive the standard and the level of women’s rugby league higher," she said.
"It’s awesome to have a lot of girls fighting for the same spot.
"It’s just going to drive the quality."
