When the Blues run out at Redcliffe, Tahney Luck (30s), Anna Gleeson (35s) and Kobie Knight (40s) will ensure three of the five female teams have a touch of Port Macquarie flavour.

It comes after six of their male counterparts were selected last month as either players or coaches for the November 9-10 series.

Luck has spent most of her career playing in the mixed division in the sport.

“It’s definitely the highest selection I’ve made,” she said.

“It’s a change to go back to the women’s because I’m normally a mixed player, but I’m excited and looking forward to it.”

Despite representing her state in her senior schooling years, Luck said it would be her first senior NSW team.

“I was fully surprised and didn’t think anything at all until I got an email about being in the squad,” she said.

“I was stoked.”

Gleeson has been selected in four previous NSW squads, making the final team on two previous occasions.

Her 2018 selection takes her overall tally to three.

“It’s always an honour to wear the blue, but I think it’s extra special this year because there are so many people from Port Macquarie,” she said.

“It says a lot about where touch is at in Port Macquarie.”

The mum of three said the benefits of being selected for New South Wales enabled the continued growth of the sport in the local region.

“It’s so good we play these competitions because we can bring things back to our local teams,” she said.

“It’s always a surprise to get selected because your position is never a definite, so you always work hard, train hard and see what happens.

“The game is so structured and has changed in every campaign I’ve played in.”

The timing of this year’s Origin series provides an opportunity for NSW players to tune up before the senior State Cup in December.

“We’re learning these new defending techniques and attacking structures so we start training for State Cup now,” Gleeson said.

“It’s busy times ahead.”

Knight partnered with Gleeson in the last Origin series in 2016 which New South Wales won in a clean sweep and she hopes to repeat the dose two years later.

“I played in 2016 with Anna and we won 3-0, didn’t concede a try and were the only women’s team to win.”

The Camden Haven product said she was hopeful of being selected, but it was always an unknown.

“I think if you’ve played before they look at you a bit more but you just never know,” she said.