NSW star set for back-row debut in Origin opener

Annabelle Banfield, AAP • April 29th, 2026 5:29 pm

Versatile Blue Tiana Penitani Gray is ready to tackle her next Origin challenge head on | Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP

Tiana Penitani Gray will play in the back row for the first time on the biggest stage, her third positional change in as many State of Origin series.

A shock selection last year at five-eighth for NSW, Penitani Gray played all three games in the halves for coach John Strange and helped the Blues to a series victory.

The Cronulla NRLW star has previously played centre and wing for her state, as well as halfback for Tonga.

But joining the forward pack will be an imposing challenge for the 30-year-old to conquer, as her experience in the second row is limited to just 13 minutes in a trial game.

Yet her history as an adaptable and versatile athlete is creating an air of confidence ahead of her latest challenge.

"I've played like a back-rower in the centres for a little while," said Penitani Gray.

"I think that's a big part of my game and I'm a big communicator on my edge.

"I absolutely am not underestimating the role by no means, I know it's a really big job, but I'm really excited and I think the attributes of being a good back-rower are the skills that I have.

"I'm really excited for the opportunity and really grateful that Strangey and the coaching staff and the girls have trusted me to be able to do a job there."

Tiana Penitani Gray is not afraid of doing the grunt work in the Origin arena | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

It may be stunning to many Blues fans but Penitani Gray says nothing that out-of-the-box coach Strange does takes the team by surprise.

"If you're part of this intimate squad in that six-week training block, what Strangey does is no shock to us in that sense," she said.

"That's something that we all know and trust and love about Strangey. He's really unorthodox and really creative, a bit of a genius when it comes to footy.

"He has always said to us he looks at us as footballers with attributes and skills rather than you're only a left centre or you're only a right centre or whatever."