For the last 12 months Holli Wheeler has embraced a new mantra.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
"Be comfortable, being uncomfortable".
The 29-year-old, now based at Wallsend with her wife and two children, reckons this will help her tackle the 2019 women's State of Origin clash at North Sydney Oval on Friday night.
After experiencing the interstate rivalry for the first time last year, Wheeler feels even better prepared to represent NSW against Queensland this time around.
"The last 12 months, especially the training and the fitness and the skill and the mental side of things, have been getting ready for this," Wheeler told the Newcastle Herald.
"I have been telling myself don't ever be comfortable. I need to be comfortable being uncomfortable.
"Origin is tough. You might have only been out there for 30 seconds, but it's the hardest 30 seconds of your career."
Wheeler has been named on the Blues' bench for the one-off fixture, which last year was won 16-10 by NSW over the visiting Maroons at the same venue.
And despite the hosts featuring seven debutantes, Wheeler is surrounded by a few familiar faces in CRL Newcastle teammates Isabelle Kelly (centre), Kylie Hilder (dummy half) and Hannah Southwell (lock).
"There's a good mix of youth and experience in our squad," Wheeler said.
"Even with the new girls that have come in, a lot of us have already played together before at either club level or at the [recent] national championships.
"But I thoroughly enjoy playing with the Newcastle girls and it's comforting when you look up outside you and you've got someone there you play week in and week out with."
Taree-born Wheeler, who debuted for the Jillaroos at the end of last year, was announced this week as one of the first nine players signed by the St George Illawarra Dragons for the second NRL Women's Premiership.
She was awarded the club's NRLW player of the year in October.
"My coach has already challenged me to go back-to-back," Wheeler said.
"I'm excited to go again and keep growing the game."