The Westpac NSW Blues Women have taken a step forward to reclaiming the Ampol State of Origin Shield after scoring a dominant 32-12 win over Queensland at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
The Blues took a 14-6 lead in the first half before Queensland scored to reduce the margin to 14-12 at half-time but the Maroons had no answers in the second half as the Blues scored 18 unanswered points to run away with the match.
The win puts NSW in a strong position to reclaim the Shield with the next two games to be played in front of their hometown fans in NSW – Game Two will be played at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Thursday 15 May and Game Three at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Thursday 29 May.
And if the Blues can produce the same type of form they showed tonight, then they will give it a good nudge as they didn’t have a bad player on the field before a record Women’s Origin crowd of 26,022.
Halfback Jesse Southwell, 20, turned in an attacking masterclass to set up the victory. Props Simaima Taufa and Ellie Johnston laid the groundwork up front, with the latter grabbing a try on debut in the second half. Fullback Abbi Church was also strong in her debut game and put the icing on the cake with the final try of the match. Winger Jayme Fressard finished the match with two tries on debut.
Back-rower Kezie Apps was strong with and without the ball, including a try saving tackle on Tamika Upton in the first half. Replacement forward Kennedy Cherrington came up with some big hits and strong runs making 22 tackles with no misses, while captain Isabelle Kelly turned in a trademark inspirational performance and was a well-deserved Player of the Match. Kelly scored a try and had two try assists, making 18 tackles missing none.
“I feel like we started strong, but we let them back in that first half there,” centre Jess Sergis said, who celebrated her 10th Origin appearance for the Blues with the opening try of the game.
“We came out a different team in that second half, and to be honest I thought we were a little bit scrappy and can be a bit better, but that’s why we’ve got a series. One more to get.”
On the performance of Southwell, Sergis said: “Jesse has been awesome, and she’s really stepped up.
“We had a six-week block before coming into this series and I could really see her confidence, she was really shining and she found her voice.
“She’s going to be one of the best No.7s, if not the best No.7 in our game, and I think she’s really got that confidence now. She’s a true footballer.”
NSW received an early break from the opening set when Queensland halfback Ali Brigginshaw kicked out on the full on the final tackle. The Blues took advantage of the mistake and turned the screws even further after coming up with a number of repeat sets.
The pressure eventually told when back-rower Yasmin Clydsdale surged at the line before turning and getting a pass away. NSW quickly spread the ball wide with Sergis dummying to her winger before crashing over the line for the opening try. Southwell had no issue with the sideline conversion to give the Blues a 6-0 lead.
Queensland only needed a couple of minutes to strike back when winger Julia Robinson batted a bomb back for back-rower Sienna Lofipo to score. Maroons hooker Lauren Brown landed the conversion to level the scores at 6-6.
A penalty against the Blues presented Queensland with another attacking opportunity in prime real estate but the goal-line defence held strong. They quickly switched their focus to attack and came up with the try of the first half when Southwell picked up a loose pass and found Clydsdale who passed for Kelly to race away and score. Southwell was unable to land the sideline conversion, but the Blues were back in front 10-6.
A penalty against the Maroons, and another clever kick from Southwell to force another repeat set, presented NSW with another golden opportunity and they were quick to capitalise with the best try of the first half.
Southwell put Church through a hole and as the NSW fullback was going to ground, she managed to get an offload away to Kelly. The Blues’ skipper caught and passed off her bootlaces for Fressard to score in the corner. Southwell was faced with another tough conversion and was unable to land it, but NSW had some breathing space at 14-6.
Queensland hit back just before half-time when five-eighth Tarryn Aiken put Rory Owen through a gap and Brown landed the conversion to reduce the deficit to 14-12. NSW had outscored their opponents three-tries-to-two in the first half but just had their noses in front.
That scenario changed five minutes after play resumed when a Queensland mistake and a strong charge from Cherrington put NSW on the attack. The Blues spread the ball wide for Fressard to grab her second try of the game and extend the lead to 18-12.
“I’m just blessed to be here but to get two tries on debut makes it even more special,” Fressard said.
“(To make my debut) has been a very long time in the making, a lot of resilience over all these years, but to finally get this opportunity in front of my family and friends is something I’ll always remember.”
The Blues went further in front when a strong run from Simaima Taufa laid the platform for her front-row partner Ellie Johnston to follow suit and crash her way over the line. Southwell finally had a conversion attempt from in front and she made no mistake to extend the lead to 24-12.
Southwell extended that lead to 26-12 when Queensland were caught not square at marker, and she made short work of the penalty from right in front of the posts.
Johnston came close to scoring a second try for the night after another barnstorming run saw her held up over the line, but they didn’t have to wait long for another opportunity.
Southwell drifted across field before picking up Abbi Church who accelerated through a gap and let her momentum carry her over the line. Southwell landed the conversion to put the exclamation point on a 32-12 win and put NSW 1-0 up in the series.
