TITANIC STATE LOVE MATCH
If David Fifita has his way, Shaylee Bent will be wearing a Queensland jersey on Wednesday night, before swapping it out for a NSW jumper on Thursday night.
The rugby league power couple will be divided down state lines this week as both prepare to run out in their respective State of Origin series openers.
Fifita has been named to start in the Maroons’ back row in Adelaide on Wednesday, while Bent will come off the bench for the Blues in Thursday night’s women’s game at CommBank Stadium.
Despite Fifita’s assurances that Bent “will be wearing my jumper” when she sits down to watch the men’s game with her Blues teammates, the 22-yearold Glenmore Park junior had a sobering message for her partner.
“I’m NSW through and through and I want NSW to win in his game,” Bent said.
“Even though I live in Queensland – and I say that with a lot of dread – you can’t escape that he (Fifita) is Maroon and I’m Blue.
“Obviously I want him to play really good and kill it as well, but we’re both two passionate people and the fact is I was born in NSW and he was born in Queensland.”
Bent has been in camp with the Blues in Sydney, while Fifita, 23, has been at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast preparing for a return to the Origin arena, having missed selection last year.
“It’s all love at the end of the day. I’m here to represent Queensland so it’s all good,” he said.
“She (Bent) will be wearing my jumper with Fifita on the back, Queensland, I guarantee. “Go Queensland!”
The remarkable feat of playing in Origin games 24 hours apart comes after both players have enjoyed strong starts to their respective season.
Bent lives in Queensland, plays in the QRL Women’s Premiership and has just signed with Fifita’s team, the Gold Coast Titans.
The couple said despite representing opposing states, they “don’t talk much footy” at home.
“We’re just like any couple who support two different footy teams,” Bent said.
Bent will take the field for her third State of Origin appearance for the Sky Blues, as they look to retain the Origin shield. This year will be a twomatch women’s series, with the result decided by aggregate following Origin II in Townsville on June 22.
She will be in front of the TV screen on Wednesday, cheering on the Blues.