Women’s State of Origin: Record audience watch Queensland force series decider

The second Women’s State of Origin game has broken records with a monster audience tuning in to watch Queensland’s series-levelling victory.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 06: Jessica Sergis of the Blues is attended to by trainers after an injury during game two of the Women's State of Origin series between New South Wales Sky Blues and Queensland Maroons at McDonald Jones Stadium on June 06, 2024 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Another Origin game, another record.

For the first time in the women’s game, a total TV national reach topped two million viewers and the average audience cracked one million for Queensland’s gripping game-two triumph.

And the new benchmark may again last just a few weeks after the Maroons forced a decider in the inaugural three-game contest against NSW.

Compounding the loss were injuries to Blues duo Jess Sergis and Jamie Chapman, however both look set to overcome their scares and take their place in Townsville on June 27.

They looked busted but courageous NSW stars Jess Sergis and Jamie Chapman are set to be fit to play the State of Origin decider in Townsville on June 27.

The right edge for the Sky Blues were down to two legs between them as the Maroons levelled the series with a historic 11-10 win at McDonald Jones Stadium on Thursday night.

Sergis copped a head knock as well as a cork in each leg at the end of the first half, while Chapman suffered debilitating cramps that seized up her legs.

Rubbishing fears either are in doubt, Chapman said nothing would stop her playing the first women’s Origin decider in three weeks.

“It’s Origin, it’s a different game, it’s the biggest game of the year I think and I’ll power through anything I have to, I don’t care what’s going on with my body or outside, I don’t care. I’ll play,” she said.

“I just cramped. Every movement I went in, I just couldn’t get the cramp away, it was just hanging around. I had about five bottles of pickle juice.”

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 06: Jessica Sergis of the Blues is attended to by trainers after an injury during game two of the Women's State of Origin series between New South Wales Sky Blues and Queensland Maroons at McDonald Jones Stadium on June 06, 2024 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The pair struggled through the second half and were kept quiet in attack, neither cracking the 100 running metre mark despite holding their own in defence.

“Me and Jess have a very good connection,” Chapman said.

“On the field we know we have each other’s backs and just make sure that we execute for each other. When one goes down the other steps up. We have a lot of trust, we have a very good combination.

“We were battling out there both having some niggles, but to defend how we did on our edge especially when we are both struggling, I’m proud of us and I think our connection on the right side is amazing and we can build on it now.”

After staging an ambush at Suncorp Stadium in game one, the Sky Blues let their chance of winning the shield slip in front of a record home crowd on Thursday night.

They’re banking on a dry track in Townsville to let their stars run loose.

“This team is definitely suited to a drier track, I think the conditions really allowed Queensland to bring Queensland back into the game,” said NSW coach Kylie Hilder.

The Sky Blues lost last year’s two-game series despite winning the second game at Townsville.

They will return to the site of the awkward win, where they watched Queensland lift the shield despite beating them 18-14.

Originally published as Women’s State of Origin: Record audience watch Queensland force series decider