Southwell happy playing "psycho" on the field

Margie McDonald

Mild-mannered Harvey Norman NSW Sky Blues lock Hannah Southwell admits her personality changes a little bit whenever she sets foot on a football field.

“I don’t know what it is, but I just get on the field and I turn into a psycho – that’s exactly how it goes,” she said in camp with the Sky Blues.

“My parents are always asking me ‘How does that happen? You go from so chilled to an absolute beast on the field.

“I don’t know where it comes from, but I’m very glad I’ve got it.”

Whatever it is that gets pumping inside her it’s working a treat. Southwell was the RLPA’s Women’s Player of the Year in 2020.

Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Origin coach Kylie Hilder – a former Roosters teammate of Southwell – is also very glad her charge gets that fired up every match.

The pair maintain a professional relationship on the field, and remain firm friends off it.

“We’ve always had a pretty good relationship Kylie and I – always fun and loving but when were on the field it’s down to business and she expects me to rip in and do my job,” Southwell said.

“It’s not too difficult finding that (professional) line. We all want to get the win on Friday.”

It will be Southwell’s fourth year in a row playing Origin. She made her NSW debut in the first State of Origin match in 2018, which replaced the former Interstate Challenge series.

“It definitely gets faster and bigger each year,” she said.

“The Origin level just keeps rising and there’s always this massive excitement around it.”

Southwell will share the goal-kicking duties with halfback Maddie Studdon – the pair receiving from tips in Sunday’s training session from Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues kicker Nathan Cleary.

The Harvey Norman NSW Sky Blues has two new forwards as debutants – hooker Keeley Davis and second rower Kennedy Cherrington.

Davis had to withdraw 24 hours before kick-off in 2020 when a lower back complaint flared up.

“I’m super pumped for Keeley to be back – everyone knows that story – and we’ve got some great forwards coming off the bench, who are really aggressive and energetic, and that’s what we need from your bench,” Southwell said.