Jesse Southwell is a vision of the future of women's rugby league but the New South Wales playmaker will draw on visions of the past as she prepares for her State of Origin debut.
The first women's interstate match played under the Origin banner was back in 2018 and five years might not seem like long ago but for Southwell it must feel like a lifetime. She's still just 18 after all.
Southwell was there that night at North Sydney Oval, cheering on older sister Hannah as she made her Origin debut as part of New South Wales's 16-10 victory over their old rival Queensland.
As Southwell prepares for the beginning of her own Origin story tomorrow, that night is all she can think about.
"I'd broken my collarbone but we all ran on the field anyway. There was a huge crowd around my sister, I'd never seen that before," Southwell said.
"That's my biggest memory, that's all I can see with Origin right now."
Since then, women's rugby league has grown exponentially – the Origin series, which has expanded to two matches, has outgrown venues like North Sydney Oval with the roomier confines of Parramatta Stadium and North Queensland Stadium required for this year's edition.
But the greatest progress is in Southwell herself. From the moment she made her NRLW debut at 17 last year, it was clear we were seeing the first of a new generation of footballer.
"She's a product of playing rugby league. Football has been her only job, she's one of those players who has been able to play all the way from Under 6's to opens," Blues veteran Millie Boyle said.
"She's always been able to play footy, she hasn't had a break and she's been in very professional environments for a while now, even as a young player.
"She'll be up a notch, she's had so much experience in the NRLW and she's just getting better with every game she plays.
"She's such a threat to play against and Queensland will identify that but she's got a few tricks up her sleeve. She's such a natural footy player. She's made for Origin."
Southwell's skill is a big reason the Blues are warm favourites to claim the opening match of the series but for Southwell to emulate elder sister Hannah, who is currently sidelined by a knee injury, and lead New South Wales to victory she'll need to overcome another NRLW star who she describes as family – Queensland fullback Tamika Upton.
The trio are housemates back in Newcastle and Upton, one of the Maroons' strike weapons, was the first person Southwell told about her selection.
"It's weird, it's hard to put into words and we haven't spoken about it – we just joke about it at home. But it's win at all costs," Southwell said.
"We have a really talented fullback of our own in Emma Tonegato and it'll be a great head-to-head match-up between them.
"I was with Hannah and Tamika, we're living together at the moment, and Tamika was the first person I told. They're my best friends so I told them first, then I told Mum and Dad."
Southwell's older sister has done what she can to prepare her for the Origin arena but Southwell's natural skill and exuberance has her primed to make her mark from the opening whistle.
"She said it's fast, the fastest games she's ever played in. I'm expecting a tough match-up like you always do when you play footy," Southwell said.
"I just want to have fun. I love playing footy and I have fun playing footy. Of course I want to win, you always want to win, but if I have fun that'll happen.
"We haven't played in a few weeks which is annoying cause I go a bit crazy without it but I just want to have fun and play good footy."
