Kimmorley, a secret weapon for NSW before Origin II

Words of wisdom from NSW legend Brett Kimmorley could well prove to be the Sky Blues' secret weapon as they look to close out the women's State of Origin series in Newcastle.

NSW coach Kylie Hilder already had assistant coach Ruan Sims on board to coach the forwards for the inaugural three-match series, but approached Kimmorley to work with her halves when she began planning to recover the Queensland Shield in 2024.

Kimmorley has since been a regular feature in the NSW camp – first in the seven-week block leading up to the Sky Blues' Game 1 win, and then ahead of Thursday night's Origin II.

It seems like a smart decision on Hilder's part to have chosen Kimmorley.

The 47-year-old has a rare combination of Origin success – he was at halfback for the entire 2000 men's series, the last time NSW recorded a clean sweep against Queensland – and has coaching experience of the NRLW in charge of the Wests Tigers.

In Sky Blues training this year, Kimmorley has been an advisor and confidant to the combination of new halfs Rachael Pearson and Corban Baxter, while also working with the NSW back five on kicking defuse.

On several occasions, the winner of the post of Prime Minister in 1999 has stepped into the shoes himself.

“It's been invaluable having Brett here,” five-eighth Baxter told AAP.

“Just getting a little bit of advice on kicking intelligence and a little game plan around a kicking game was really invaluable, and his mindset around transitioning into different positions on the terrain and really opened my mind to the different options we can take.

“It was the little one percent that helped me tighten up my game as a five-eighth.”

Kimmorley also addressed the team as a whole during his time at camp.

“He was very clear, concise and he worked a lot with us in our trial matches,” hooker Olivia Higgins told AAP.

“He stood at the back and told us what we needed to do better. He was quite direct, he told us what we needed to hear but he was also very wise.

“It’s so cool to have someone like him among the girls volunteering their time to help us be better.”

The Sky Blues are wary of the threat posed by Queensland halfback Ali Brigginshaw, who emerged from lockdown with the series on the line.

Brigginshaw has played a link-up role in the middle of the park in his last three Origin appearances, but the Brisbane star will return to the position in which she won the 2018 and 2019 NRLW premierships.

“She has so much experience,” Baxter said of her rival.

“She has played so many great games and is a player who spends a lot of time on the ball effortlessly and seems to be able to take the line.”