Take a moment to ponder the impact of the players around her and Dibb suddenly emerges as the linchpin of the Blues in her Origin comeback.

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Standing outside Dibb on the left edge is Nellie Doherty Medal winner Isabelle Kelly, who scored the match-winning try and seemed virtually unstoppable from the opening whistle. Inside the five-eighth is NSW captain Kezie Apps, with Emma Tonegato chiming in from fullback.

This is the nucleus of a successful NSW side, but Dibb knows as well as anyone that retaining her place next year is far from a fait accompli.

“It’s been taken from me before,” she said. “I’m not going to get complacent and think it’s just mine now. I’m still going to work every day to make sure next year I give them no choice but to select me.”

NSW will attempt to defend the shield in two games next year as officials consider whether the series should be played before or during the NRLW season.

This year’s iteration is wedged between two NRLW competitions after the 2021 version was postponed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 season is still to come.

Hilder wants players to join Origin camp on the back of a quality competition, or at least midway through it, and Queensland coach Tahnee Norris is singing from the same hymn sheet.

“That’s something that has to be worked out with our calendar,” Norris said. “We have two NRLW seasons in one year, which is a really big load on the girls, but the girls want to play footy. It’s actually a really good example of what the girls can actually do for a full year.

“There’s a real opportunity to have a look at the calendar and look to schedule three games in. Whether the NRLW plays before or after, I think that’s something we really need to think about so we can showcase the game to the best of the girls’ ability.”