Millie Elliott is back. Husband Adam might not be far behind her.

Millie Elliott might not be the only member of her household to make an emotional return to rugby league this week, as husband Adam waits to learn if he will debut for South Sydney on Sunday.

Millie, the champion front-rower who has won four NRLW premierships with three clubs and represented her state and country on multiple occasions, played for the first time in 18 months on Thursday night to help NSW beat Queensland 11-6 in the women’s State of Origin series opener in Newcastle.

She sat out all of last season while pregnant with her first child, daughter Gigi, who was born in September.

On Thursday, the 27-year-old shrugged off a nasty head clash in the opening exchanges to play 30 minutes in two stints, making 98 metres and 27 tackles – including a late try saver on Queensland lock Keilee Joseph.

Looking after Gigi in the crowd was husband Adam, who is a chance of returning to McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday to make his debut for South Sydney, his fourth NRL club.

The 31-year-old is “not counting my chickens before they hatch”, but remains on an extended bench for the first time since belatedly signing for Souths in January, after being released by Newcastle at the end of 2025.

A veteran of 173 top-grade games for Canterbury, Canberra and the Knights, Adam has been hindered by a calf injury since joining the Rabbitohs but said he is ready to go if coach Wayne Bennett requires him against his former team.

“It was hard not to worry a bit, especially when everyone was back into pre-season training, and I hadn’t found a club,” he said.

“But I still thought I had plenty to offer in the NRL and was always confident I’d find a club.

“I was very fortunate to end up at South Sydney. It’s a great club, and I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity, and I’m looking forward to playing my first game for them.”

During the months he spent training on his own, Adam did not need to look far for inspiration.

“I’m so proud of her,” he said of his wife.

“To become a mum and come back and play, that’s the goal that she set, and she worked hard right through her whole pregnancy to achieve that.

“The biggest rap I can give her is that she was preparing to play again, even before she had Gigi.

“She’s got a really good team around her, good support staff and family, and everyone has been really helpful and supportive. But at the end of the day, she’s the one who’s got to go out and do the work and get her body back to her a state where she’s in a position to play.

“So, yeah, I’m obviously really proud of her.”

Millie joked in a post-match interview with Channel Nine that “I actually beat ‘Adz’ back to a game”, but it might only be by a matter of days.

The rugged lock has not played since Newcastle’s round-12 win against Penrith last year, when he tore his biceps, prompting season-ending surgery.

“It’s very special to have Gigi here, and ‘Adz’ and the whole fam,” Millie told Channel Nine.

“Gigi’s first game … it’s just great to have her be part of it.”

She is clearly relishing the challenge of juggling motherhood and football.

“It’s just great that we’ve now got the support, and we’re able to have kids and continue our career,” she said.

NSW coach John Strange had no doubt Elliott would have an even bigger impact in game two of the series, at Suncorp Stadium on May 14.

“It’s good to have her back but getting that game under her belt, she’ll just get better and better,” he said. “I spoke to her after the game there and there’s a couple of little areas that, Millie being Millie, she wants to improve on.

“But for me getting that first game, she played big minutes in particular in the first half for us … so yeah, she’ll be better for that run, definitely.”

NSW skipper Isabelle Kelly will have scans on an ankle injury she suffered late in Thursday night’s game, while Queensland will be monitoring Joseph and prop Makenzie Weale, who both suffered category-one concussions.

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