NSW Blues claim Women’s State of Origin shield with 26-6 win over Queensland Maroons in game two

NSW centre Jess Sergis is in doubt for State of Origin III, with series-winning coach John Strange calling out string of crusher tackles in Thursday night’s win over Queensland.

NSW centre Jess Sergis is in doubt for State of Origin III, with series-winning coach John Strange calling out string of crusher tackles in Thursday night’s 26-6 win over Queensland.

Sergis went off disoriented at halftime and didn’t return for the second half after copping a head knock and reports of neck pain after an alleged crusher.

“She’s fine now, she copped a bit of a knock, a few girls got some crushers in the first half which is disappointing, so I’m not really sure,” Strange said.

“She was a bit disorientated at halftime so we spoke with the medics and said, ‘Look, go off’.

“And I said to her she could come back on in the second half but she didn’t, she was still a bit disorientated.

“Probably about 15 minutes after full-time she started to get back to herself.

Jess Sergis went off with a concussion early in Game 2. Picture: NRL Photos

“She was out on the sidelines like everyone else but shivering and just a few things she probably needed to get rugged up a bit.

“She’s fine now, but whether she plays game three or not, we’ll see, that’ll be up to the docs. We won’t be pushing anyone to play if they’re not ready.

“Thankfully for her, she’s good right now.”

Should she be ruled out, it will force a shuffle to the backline for game three in Newcastle on May 29 as the Blues fight for the first whitewash in the women’s game.

Tiana Penitani was shifted to the centres in Thursday night’s win and could be an option on the right edge.

Meanwhile, Queensland fullback Tamika Upton will be sent for scans after coming off in the second half with a leg injury.

The Maroons co-captain was wrong-footed by Jaime Chapman as she charged to score a try, and was left clutching her left hamstring.

Upton would be a huge loss for the Maroons as they fight to avoid a whitewash in Newcastle.

“Disappointing to lose her in the second half there and see how she tracks over the next 48 hours with some scans,” said coach Tahnee Norris.

Revenge mission complete: NSW claim dominant Origin series win

NSW are chasing a State of Origin whitewash for the first time in women’s rugby league history after smashing Queensland 26-6 to win the shield at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night.

After back-to-back series losses, NSW produced a muddy masterclass in the four try win including a double for Olivia Kernick, setting up the potential for a total shutdown of the Maroons in Newcastle in a fortnight.

A day after the NRL announced the women’s fixture had been dumped from the Las Vegas schedule for 2026, the Blues made a case for more eyeballs on the game from home.

The crowd of 16,026 is the lowest total since the 2023 series opener at CommBank Stadium, but whether it was the miserable weather, Sydney’s attendance habits or otherwise, the majority of fans stayed at home in comfort.

It’s the first loss for Queensland since 2022 and follows their biggest ever loss to NSW just a fortnight before.

Olivia Kernick was the player of the match for the Blues. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The Maroons will be scrambling after star fullback Tamika Upton was taken from the field with a suspected hamstring injury towards the end of the second half, while the Blues will also be sweating on centre Jess Sergis who could be in doubt for game three.

Sergis didn’t return to the field in the second half with a neck injury she suffered during an alleged crusher tackle early in the night.

It wasn’t the Maroons’ night. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Any doubt on the lone tryscorer Upton will be a huge blow to the Maroons who were completely shut-out of the game as Blues halfback Jesse Southwell took hold.

The 20-year-old Knights halfback had the ball on a string, throwing cut out passes and kicking the Blues into territory in another show of her growing star power.

After a humiliating 32-12 loss at Suncorp Stadium a fortnight ago, Queensland were desperate to save the series.

Is there a whitewash on the cards? Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

But as the Blues took hold, Queensland were let down by their halves as they struggled to make the most of any possession.

Veteran halfback Ali Brigginshaw couldn’t get a clean kick away and finished with just two runs for the game, while five-eighth Tarryn Aiken was also kept quiet in the poor conditions.

The Maroons led early through a messy try from Upton who was on the spot to ground a grubber from Lauren Brown.

However, the Blues never looked back once Simaima Taufa stormed through the defence from 30 metres out to score, put through a hole by Kernick who took the game to 12-6 at halftime.

Wingers Jayme Fressard and Jaime Chapman polished off the second half to round off the thumping.

Originally published as NSW Blues claim Women’s State of Origin shield with 26-6 win over Queensland Maroons in game two