You wouldn't have known it watching her grab a memorable hat-trick on debut, but the then 19-year-old could not have imagined how difficult stringing together her next half-dozen would be.

She made her Jillaroos debut not long after that breakout performance at WIN Stadium in 2017 before a horrid run of injuries kept her largely out of action until last year's NRLW season.

It included a debilitating toe injury and a high ankle sprain that kept her out of last year's inaugural Origin clash. Even after returning to the Jillaroos fold in October, an MCL injury again left her sidelined.

She'll make her long-awaited second appearance for NSW in Friday's women's Origin clash but admits there were times she thought she might never make it back at all.

"Last year I only played about six games of footy the whole year," Sergis said.

"My goal was to play State of Origin last year but, with the injury setbacks, I was losing a little bit of hope and there was a little bit of doubt in my head.

"It's just grown so quickly, we've got seven debutants for the game this Friday night, so there was a lot of doubt there given the growth and the talent in all the girls coming through.

"I was very fortunate to play the NRLW competition with the Dragons. I didn't know what to expect from it but I had a lot of support around me.

"I knew if I put my mind to it and believed in myself I could get back there. It's the first time since [2017] that I've put the jersey back on so I'm so excited."

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That memorable debut was only two years ago but Sergis said it feels like an entirely different ballgame this time around, in terms of preparation and the game-day experience.

"To think my debut was at WIN Stadium in front of pretty much just friends and family, for it to grow as much as it has even in a year it pretty amazing," she said.

"I was there supporting the girls at North Sydney Oval last year and just sitting on the hill I had goosebumps seeing the reaction to it.

"We had no idea what to expect, we had no idea there was going to be 8000 people there and be broadcast to over a million people.

"To experience that on the field this year is nerve-wracking but so much more exciting. We've done all the prep we can and we're just so excited to get out there."

Having linked with Helensburgh at club level this season, Sergis will also join the likes of Kezie Apps, Sam Bremner, Maddie Studdon, Ruan Sims and Corban McGregor on an illustrious list of Tigerlillies to don an Origin jumper.

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She says the shift to the Illawarra to play under Bremner and alongside Apps has played no small part in her return to the NSW fold.

"Moving to Wollongong late last year, I just wanted a fresh start and to experience some more footy," She said.

"I went to Helensburgh to be alongside Kezie and Sam and having Sammy as coach, it's amazing how much she can still teach us even though I've been around the last couple of years.

"Kezie and I are pretty close and even on off days we're still training together. I'm still learning off her every day I'm with her so it's definitely helped me with my footy."