Tiana Penitani-Gray named in backrow for NSW - 𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽

April 23, 2026 — 5:00am

Tiana Penitani-Gray has played 13 minutes in the back row – and that was only for an in-house trial a few weeks ago.

When she walks onto the pitch at Mcdonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle next Thursday for game one of the 2026 Women’s State of Origin series, that’s where she’ll line up as coach John Strange tries to squeeze all the big names into his star-studded NSW team.

The 2026 NSW Blues Women’s Origin team.Oscar Colman

But Strange has no qualms about moving one of his most experienced campaigners – who has played centre and five-eighth for NSW and is a regular in the Australian squad – as his team attempts to retain the Origin shield in 2026.

“I know I look at football different than most coaches and most people, but I just look at the physical attributes they’ve got and the mindset they have. And if you sit down and put all those down on a list, she ticks every box to be an outstanding back-rower,” Strange said of Penitani-Gray.

“We’ve seen her in the centres [and] she loves running lines – that’s a courage thing that not everyone has. She’s also a great defender, she’s a really good communicator, which you need in the back row because in defence you need to communicate with your middle and your edge, and I know she’s aggressive.”

Tiana Penitani-Gray in action for NSW last year.Getty Images

Strange, a premiership- and Origin-winning coach, is so comfortable with his decision because he’s done it before with Yasmin Meakes (formerly Clydsdale), who was a winger and centre when she arrived at the Roosters in 2020, before Strange moved her into the back row. Now Meakes is the best back-rower in the NRLW.

Penitani-Gray’s move to No.11 is one of just a handful of changes to the NSW team that won the shield in 2025.

Jesse Southwell will have a new partner in the halves, with Jocelyn Kelleher named at five-eighth this year.

Kelleher made her Origin debut in 2025, when she was instrumental for NSW off the bench, and then had an impressive season with the Roosters. But Strange said it was her combination with Southwell that eventually sealed the No.6 jersey for her for game one.

Millie Elliott returns to the NSW side after coming back from maternity leave.Oscar Colman

“In my mind, she was either going to be starting five-eighth or No.14 – that was always going to be the case, especially with Emma Verran now being there, but I was probably leaning more towards Jocelyn being No.14 over five-eighth because she’s so versatile – she can play 13, nine, and obviously in the halves,” Strange said.

“But the way she trained at five-eighth, with the connection with Jesse, I thought it was really good, and it gives us another kicking option as well … To have her and Jesse as two kicking options both sides of the ruck, I think that’s going to add a little bit of value to us.”

The other big inclusion for NSW is prop Millie Elliott, who is returning from maternity leave. Elliott said it was an adjustment coming back after having a baby, but that she was ready to go for Origin I.

“I’m just so grateful and so lucky to be back and have the opportunity to be back in the squad and to be back training,” Elliott said.

“My goal was just to be back and give it my all in the six-week [training] block to put my best foot forward when it came to selection time, and I’m just so lucky that we’ve got such a great group of players, staff and coach, and I’ve also got a great support base at home that helps me get there.”