NSW Blues triumph 16-10 over Queensland in women’s Origin clash at North Sydney Oval
IT was a State of Origin to silence the naysayers as the women from New South Wales and Queensland went toe-to-toe in an arm wrestle of a battle that wasn’t decided until the final minutes.
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WOMEN’S ORIGIN: Player profiles for NSW and QLD
THERE is no doubt how much State of Origin means to these women’s players.
On an historic night at North Sydney Oval as New South Wales and Queensland’s best female players went toe to toe, it was telling that victorious Blues captain Maddie Studdon lifted trophy having had to leave her job to do so.
A shift worker at Port Botany, Studdon was forced to choose between work and representing her state.
There was no choice to make for the proud Blue, as she defiantly led her team to a gritty 16-10 win.
It was the first time the women played under the State of Origin title. Nearly 7,000 fans paid to get in to watch and the match was broadcast live on Channel 9 and Fox Sports.
They didn’t disappoint.
Everything was there. Big hits, niggle, uncompromising rugby league.
Exactly why Studdon knew where she needed to be this week.
“It’s quite easy, I was always going to pick rugby league,” Studdon said.
“I was going to pick that Blues jersey. This is my job and if that’s how it’s going to be, that’s the way and I’m so proud and I’m happy how it came out too.”
The Blues were looking for their third straight victory after 17 years without the trophy and they battled through the first half with an injury depleted lineup. It was a courageous effort but they were carried through the dying stages by the rallying cries of ‘New South Wales’ from the crowd.
Three players went down within 20 minutes of each other in the first period. Corban McGregor dislocated her shoulder in the sixth minute and didn’t return. Lock Vanessa Foliaki and hooker Rebecca Riley followed. This for a team already down on troops with captain Ruan Sims and halfback Caitlin Moran missing unavailable for selection because of injury.
Scores were tied at six at the break. With five minutes to go it was 10 apiece. But it was Blues centre Isabelle Kelly – player of the match and two-try hero - who broke the deadlock, stepping her way through to score after a break from five-eighth Lavina O’Mealey earlier in the set to take the match in the dying stages.
Coach Ben Cross said the execution was off, Queensland had monstered them in tackles through the middle and they struggled to get the flow to their quick outside backs. But he praised the determination of his players in producing a match that was everything Origin should be.
“If they were looking for a marquee Origin for the first ever women’s, they got it,” he said.
“Queensland came with a terrific attitude and the game, it wasn’t the prettiest game, the execution wasn’t the best, but that was what Origin is all about.
“Both teams were so gritty and tenacious in defence. The physicality, some of the hits out there, it was just a true Origin and they proved their worth to have that name of Origin alongside that game.”
While Studdon may eventually have to turn to Seek to find a new job, for now she said she’ll happily watch replays of the game. She may not have to though.
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said the game would look out for its women’s players as they negotiate the difficulties of shifting to being semi-professional athletes.
“What we have to do is work smart and work together so are there collaborative opportunities with one of the clubs? Are there development opportunities with us in our game development?” Greenberg said.
“How do we make sure that we take care of these girls who are on the way through … We understand that it’s a journey but also people have to get up on Monday and if they don’t have work then we’ve got to try to help them.”
But they gave it everything to hold off a Queensland team that refused to back down.
NSW centre Isabelle Kelly had opened the scoring with a try in the eighth minute. Just five minutes later the Maroons levelled the scores through winger Karina Brown.
The Maroons finished the stronger in the first half and continued to probe throughout the second.
It was again the Blues who took the lead in the second half when winger Nakia Davis-Welsh scored, Maddie Studdon unable to add the extras to have it at 10-6 until Queensland struck back with 15 to go.
Brown crossed for her double in the corner and fullback Chelsea Baker couldn’t convert and from there the fans stood, they moved to the edge of their seats and they cheered the teams home.
It was a break from Blues five-eighth Lavina O’Mealey that put NSW on the front foot with five minutes to go. Regathering a touch from Queensland the playmaker was brought down 10 out from the Maroons line. The Blues worked the line then moved the ball left and found a sweeping Sam Bremner who passed back in to Kelly for her to step her way past, break the deadlock, Queensland hearts and seal Origin for the Blues.
NSW 16 (Isabelle Kelly 2, Nakia Davis-Welsh tries; Maddie Studdon 2 goals) def QUEENSLAND 10 (Karina Brown 2 tries; Chelsea Baker goal).