Women’s State of Origin Game 1 2024: First blood to NSW in Suncorp boilover
The NSW Sky Blues have dealt a devastating blow to the Maroons’ hopes of back-to-back series wins, blowing their Origin rivals away in the first half to secure victory in Game I.
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The NSW Sky Blues have landed the first blow in the first ever women’s three-game State of Origin series, outclassing Queensland 22-12 in front of a record crowd at Suncorp Stadium.
An early surge with tries to fullback Emma Tonegato and winger Jaime Chapman left the Maroons shell shocked on Thursday night.
Powerful NSW prop Caitlan Johnston brushed aside ‘pathetic’ trolls, who targeted the new Cronulla recruit with body-shaming comments online two weeks ago, to seal a decisive victory for the Sky Blues.
Sky Blues skipper Isabelle Kelly said Thursday night’s win would silence the side’s detractors, who doubted NSW would have the match fitness to compete given the state’s premier competition, the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership, was shifted to later in the year.
“A lot of people doubted our team, with having no footy but the best thing we ever did was come together and work our ass off to make sure we could take this win,” Kelly said.
“We had a lot of people doubt our team so to come away with a solid win, it’s making game two exciting.”
Reigning Dally M player of year, Tamika Upton gave the Queensland a sniff in the second half after the fullback burrowed through the NSW defence close to the line for the Maroons’ first try of the night in the second half.
Queensland winger Emily Bass scored a consolation try with only two minutes left on the clock, but the damage was already done.
It’s now on the Maroons to level the series in game two in enemy territory at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium on June 6.
“It came down to our errors, you give a team that can score the ball, you have to expect that. We tried to come out of that in the first 10 minutes but just letting them get away with it... we have to learn from that, that’s a kick in the butt. Bring on Newcastle,” Queensland skipper Ali Brigginshaw said.
LATE CHANGE PAYS OFF EARLY
Olivia Kernick was a late call-up into the starting side at lock, ahead of Keeley Davis, and had immediate impact in the early exchanges. Kernick’s powerful running opened up the Maroons defence after just five minutes in the first half, only to find Sky Blues prop Caitlan Johnston in support and on the surge, who put on the final pass for fullback Emma Tonegato to finish the one-two punch laid on by her forwards.
Sky Blues assistant said the combination built between Kenrick and Johnston during Origin camp forced the hand of coaches.
“It was in the works, we have liked her in the middle, her and Caitlan Johnston have a working relationship, it would be crazy not to take advantage of it,” Sky Blues assistant coach Ruan Sims revealed.
ORIGIN FOLKLORE
Sky Blues winger Jaime Chapman etched her name into Origin folklore on Thursday night with a stunning individual effort that will grace highlights reels for years to come.
With a goose step and a powerful surge, the Gold Coast Titans star split apart the Maroons defence on the right side of the field to streak away 80-metres down the field in an effort that set tongues wagging on social media - but sent the Maroons faithful at Suncorp Stadium into a stunned silence in the first half as NSW extended their lead by 12 after just 10 minutes.
“She runs like a gazelle. What about the stride on this young girl? That is breathtaking,” Channel 9 commentator Phil Gould said.
Chapman wasn’t the only NSW outside back in fine form on Thursday night and causing havoc on the Maroon’s middle. Centre Isabelle Kelly and Jessica Sergis, fullback Tonegato and Chapman owned the yardage game, chewing up 456 metres and 15 tackle busts.
“It’s really good to have someone like Jaime Chapman on your team but all our outside backs, I’m really blessed with the back that I have. The metres they get, they put us on the front foot all the time,” NSW coach Kylie Hilder said.
JAIME CHAPMAN 🤯#Originpic.twitter.com/uXtQN0mctj
— NRLW (@NRLWomens) May 16, 2024
ON REPORT
Both Blues coach Kylie Hilder and Maroons coach Tahnee Norris will be sweating the charge sheet on Friday morning with two key halves put on report.
NSW five-eighth Corban Baxter was put on report for attacking the leg of Zahara Temara as the Maroons halfback put a kick away. Attacking the leg of a kicker has been a hot button topic this week, when Harry Grant beat a charge at the judiciary for making illegal contact with the leg of Cronulla’s Dan Atkinson after the Melbourne hooker was sin binned for the indiscretion. Baxter was neither sin binned or penalised even though her illegal contact appeared worse than what Grant produced on Atkinson.
Temara was then put on report herself for a hip drop tackle on Blues backrower Yasmin Clydsdale only minutes later. Blues veteran Kezie Apps was also cited for a crusher tackle on Maroons winger Emily Bass. Referee Kasey Badger did not penalise any of the incidents during play with the players put on report after Bunker reviews.
SUPPORT SWELL
Another crowd record was set on Thursday night after 25,492 fans came through the turnstiles at Suncorp Stadium surpassing the 18,275 people who turned up to Game Two in Townsville in Game Two.
—Fatima Kdouh
RELIVE OUR LIVE MATCH COVERAGE BELOW!
FULL-TIME: BLUES STUN MAROONS AT SUNCORP
The NSW Sky Blues have dealt a devastating blow to the Maroons’ hopes of back-to-back Origin series win, blowing their rivals away in the first half to and holding back a Queensland comeback to secure victory in Game I.
Turns out my pre-game prediction wasn’t too far off after all! Yasmin Clydsale claims player of the match, and its well deserved. She didn’t get on the scoresheet but she did put in a mountain of work, with 13 runs for 134m, 23 tackles and a linebreak.
Sky Blues to win 18-12 with Isabelle Kelly first tryscorer and Millie Elliott player of the match.
67TH MINUTE: MAROONS GET CONSOLATION TRY
Emily Bass has had a night to forget for Queensland, but she has come away with a consolation try in the dying minutes of this game. The Maroons threatened a late comeback, but it proved just too late in the end.
65TH MINUTE: NAIL IN THE COFFIN?
The Sky Blues have inflicted more misery upon the Maroons, with star front rower Caitlan Johnston charging onto the footy to barge over Queensland fullback Tamika Upton to all but wrap up this one for NSW.
Caitlan Johnston goes straight through them! 💪#Originpic.twitter.com/HDb4QMLYmM
— NRLW (@NRLWomens) May 16, 2024
62ND MINUTE: MAROONS BOMB ANOTHER
Queensland has gone agonisingly close to their second try of the night, with Emma Manzelmann knocking on in the in-goal after scrambling over from dummy-half. There has been a real momentum shift in this game, with the Maroons dominating the last five minutes. Can the Blues hold onto their lead?
54TH MINUTE: IS THE COMEBACK ON?
The Maroons have finally got on the scoreboard, with who other than star fullback Tamika Upton barging over her opposing number Emma Tonegato to give Queensland a sniff. They still trail by 10 points, but there is plenty of time left. Can the Maroons mount a comeback? Or will the Blues be able to hold on?
Tamika Upton gets Queensland on the board! 😤#Originpic.twitter.com/OQFpQkhRk0
— NRLW (@NRLWomens) May 16, 2024
51ST MINUTE: RECORD CROWD CONFIRMED
The Women’s State of Origin crowd attendance record has been smashed in Game I of a historic three game series, with 25,492 fans packing into Suncorp Stadium. The previous record was just over 18,000 at Game II in Townsville last year.
The NRL’s decision to host Game I on the eve of Magic Round has proved to be an absolute masterstroke.
43RD MINUTE: BLUES TAKE THE TWO
We’re back underway at Suncrop Stadium, and it’s a disastrous start for the Maroons, as the NSW Sly Blues continued to heap misery upon their Origin rivals, extending their lead by another two points. NSW seem very content to take the points when they’re on offer, as Queensland continue to give away penalties to slow them down.
The Maroons just have to be the next team to score to get back into this game, at this rate they cannot afford to concede another try.
HALF-TIME: MAROONS 0-14 SKY BLUES
The NSW Sky Blues head into halftime with their biggest ever lead over Queensland, with a dominant performance in the opening stanza. But can they hold on? We all know you can never count out the Maroons at Suncorp Stadium … even if this is the first time the Women have played at the venue.
Gus Gould summed up the Blues first half performance, suggesting no NSW team has ever gone into halftime feeling more confident.
21ST MINUTE: MAROONS BOMB ONE
The Maroons are finally starting to fight back, but have bombed their first real chance of the night, with Evania Pelite coming up with a knock-on in goal after a great kick from Queensland fullback Tamika Upton.
19TH MINUTE: BLUES EXTEND LEAD
The Blues have added another two points to their lead, kicking a penalty goal right in front.
Kezie Apps is now also on report for a crusher tackle on Emily Bass … that’s the third player now on report for an incident that was missed by referee Kasey Badger.
10TH MINUTE: BLUES GO BACK TO BACK
And just like that the Blues are in again. Sky Blues winger Jaime Chapman has etched her name into Origin folklore on with a stunning individual effort that will grace highlights reels for years to come.
With a goose step and a powerful surge, the Gold Coast Titans star split apart the Maroons defence on the right side of the field to streak away 80-metres down the field in an effort that set tongues wagging on social media – but sent the Maroons faithful at Suncorp Stadium into a stunned silence in the first half as NSW extended their lead by 12 after just 10 minutes.
“She runs like a gazelle. What about the stride on this young girl? That is breathtaking,” Channel 9 commentator Phil Gould said.
JAIME CHAPMAN 🤯#Originpic.twitter.com/uXtQN0mctj
— NRLW (@NRLWomens) May 16, 2024
It’s one way traffic at the moment, with the Blues falling agonisingly close from a third try just minutes later, after a break from new five-eighth Corban Baxter, but NSW fell apart at the end of the set.
The Blues are making easy metres up the field and are tearing the Maroons apart with offloads. Queensland aren’t doing themselves any favours, coming up with some poor errors.
6TH MINUTE: NSW SKY BLUES STRIKE FIRST
The Blues have opened up the scoring at Suncorp Stadium, with front rower Caitlan Johnston showing off her ball playing after putting NSW fullback Emma Tonegato over untouched. Jessica Sergis and Jamie Chapman put the Blues into great field position with a stellar run up field, after the Blues managed to get the ball back after a Maroons forced drop out.
Great support play leads to Emma Tonegato getting us started! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/eIRPDWrdUy
— NRLW (@NRLWomens) May 16, 2024
NSW did get lucky early however, with Corban Baxter appearing to make contact with the legs of Zahara Temara after kicking, but was given the all clear by referee Kasey Badger. However she was put on report for the incident a few minutes later.
Zahara Temara also found herself on report just before the Blues’ first try, for a hip-drop tackle.
That contact of Zehara Temara was so much worse than what Harry Grant was sin-binned for last week. #Origin
— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) May 16, 2024
7:47 – MAROONS KICK-OFF
And we’re underway at Suncorp Stadium with the NSW Sky Blues and Queensland Maroons going head-to-head in a historic three-game series! Who will come out on top in Game I?
7:35 – PREDICTION
Putting it here now so everyone can laugh at how wrong I was after the game, but I’m backing the Sky Blues to win 18-12 with Isabelle Kelly first tryscorer and Millie Elliott player of the match.
7:25 – WHERE IS THE PRE-GAME COVERAGE?
Not much in the way of a match preview from Channel 9 … the men’s game get an hour of dribble before the game and we have less than 20 minutes till kick-off here and A Current Affair is still on …
Disappointing that Fox/Kayo don’t have the live broadcast rights to the Women’s State of Origin. #NRLW#NRL#Origin
— Jake Michael Thompson (@JMThompson95) May 16, 2024
7:15 – RECORD CROWD LOOMING
More than 20,000 fans are expected to attend Game 1 of the Women’s State of Origin at Suncorp Stadium tonight, with the historic clash setting up what promises to be an epic Magic Round in Brisbane.
Train is PACKED for this State of Origin, should be a massive crowd tonight!! 🔥 #NRLW#Origin
— itsJesseB (@itsJesseB_) May 16, 2024
6:45PM – LATE MAIL
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Game I of the 2024 Women’s State of Origin series. I’m Wilson Smith and I’ll be blogging tonight, so be sure to stay tuned for all the latest news and score updates.
It’s an hour before kick-off and the final teams are in and the NSW Sky Blues have made a late change, with Keeley Davis dropping to the bench and Olivia Kernick replacing her at lock.
The Maroons were forced to make one change in the lead up to Game 1, with Keilee Joseph ruled out with an MCL injury. She is replaced on the bench by Cowboys star Makenzie Weale for her State of Origin debut.
There were fitness questions over new five-eighth Rachel Pearson, but she has been confirmed to play.
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