Andrew Patmore named NSW Blues women's coach

Former Canterbury, Parramatta, and South Sydney centre Andrew Patmore has been appointed NSW women's coach for the 2019 season.

Patmore, who played 55 first-grade games from 1990-1995, was an assistant to coach Ben Cross during last year's inaugural Holden Women's State of Origin campaign.

Cross resigned from the role in December after securing an assistant coaching job at the Broncos under new coach Anthony Seibold.

"I was asked if I was keen and I said absolutely," Patmore told NRL.com at Belmore on Wednesday, where he is the club's pathways manager.

"Last year's Origin experience was the best night to be involved in. The buzz after the game ... I didn't sleep. The win was great but the whole night, you couldn't stop smiling. To be part of that was inspiring.

"I've been around the women's game for a few years now and from the ground level. It is different and pure. The footy is not over-wrestled or complicated.

"The girls haven't been over-coached at this stage. They want to learn and ask why too, which is great."

The inaugural clash last season, which attracted over 7,000 spectators at North Sydney Oval, offered Patmore an opportunity to experience the women's game at the elite level.

He could have some selection headaches down the track in key positions following the emergence of several stars following the 2018 NRLW competition.

Injured halfback Caitlin Moran is also on the comeback trail from an ACL injury, while Maddie Studdon and Ruan Sims were both overlooked for Australian duties last season.

Incumbent Blues winger Nakia Davis-Welsh is also expecting a child in April.

"We'll track everyone and how they are throughout the year. There's a selection panel that will be watching and a scouting report across most competition games," Patmore said.

"There's a lot of competition this year, the NRLW showed us players that came from nowhere last year. The pool has got bigger and the quality has too.

"There were only 10 or so Jillaroos players that used to be certainties. But now there's 40-to-50 girls that are all in contention."

Patmore oversees the junior development at the Belmore-based club.

NSW lifted the State of Origin shield after their memorable 16-10 victory over Queensland last June.

Previously, under the interstate challenge banner, NSW had managed to claw their way back from a 17-year era of dominance by the Maroons to win clashes in 2016 and 2017.

They'll defend their title against Queensland in another stand-alone fixture back at North Sydney Oval on Friday, June 21.