It wasn’t too long ago proud Queenslander Annabelle Codey was in the front line for the Reds trying to take down the ever-powerful NSW Waratahs.
Now, the five-cap Wallaroo is ready to return to Brisbane and is looking to maintain NSW’s perfect record against their Queensland counterparts.
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Codey will run out in her home state for the first time since making the move south after getting the spoilers in their 2024 fixture last April, knowing what to expect. “It means a lot. I'm really excited to go home and face the old club,” Codey said.
“It’s just that rivalry, a lot of passion around the game.
“They'll front up and it's going to be a challenge for us, so really excited to take it on.
“…I think there's a little bit of banter here and there, that's what makes it exciting. But at the end of the day, once we get to Queensland, we lock in and we're enemies on the field until we get off it.”
The Codey family has a unique history of switching between NSW and Queensland.
Father and Wallabies captain David played for NSW in 1984 before weeks later pulling on the maroon jersey in the return fixture at Ballymore.
Annabelle will run out at the same stadium over 40 years on in a moment she will cherish.
“My friends and family are all going to be there. It's a really great venue to play at,” she said.
“Ballymore is the home of rugby in Queensland so it's going to be really fun.”
The battle will likely be decided in the forward pack, with prop Eva Karpani’s move to the Reds a big storyline.
The Waratahs have elevated Adiana Talakai to the starting side to match Karpani’s power as they hunt to continue their flawless record over the Reds.
“It's going to be really exciting, the battle of the front rows and it’s going to be really interesting to see them go up against each other
“On Eva, we just have a focus on controlling her and we know what we need to do to shut her down, so hopefully we can do that.”
