Women’s State of Origin: Player ratings and latest news after Queensland’s thrilling win
Until women rugby league players can become full-time athletes the idea of a three-game State of Origin series is virtually impossible, says Blues coach Kylie Hilder.
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Blues coach Kylie Hilder says she wants to see the women’s Origin blockbuster return to New South Wales next year but has ruled out an immediate move for a three-game series.
The women’s State of Origin clash has been played on the Sunshine Coast for the past two years, with the annual fixture having been played at North Sydney Oval in the two years prior to that.
Both sides enjoy the home ground advantage — winning their respective fixtures on home soil since the interstate clash was moved under the State of Origin banner in 2018.
In the aftermath of their nailbiting two-point loss on Friday night, Hilder said she would like to see next year’s clash moved to south of the border.
“We hope so,” Hilder said.
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“We’ve had two years up here so we hope it’ll be back in New South Wales next year.”
However, the Blues coach has ruled out an imminent introduction of a three-game series despite their two-point loss.
NSW players and coaches were left biting their tongue in the wash-up of the match after a controversial penalty handed Queensland the win in this year’s Origin clash.
Hilder described it as “a really shit way to lose a game right on full-time”.
She said she hoped the series would one day become a best-of-three clash but not until the female players became full-time athletes.
“After you lose, definitely,” she said.
“Obviously three games would be wonderful.
“But as I keep saying, until our athletes are full-time athletes, it’s nearly impossible for these girls to be playing three Origins plus an NRLW competition and then to also have a full-time job.
“Hopefully it will get there one day.”
The annual fixture is already showing signs of growth, with more than 7000 fans braving the wet and cold weather at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Friday night.
It was also the first time both sides were coached by two women — with Hilder mentoring the Blues and Tahnee Norris in charge of the Queensland side.
“It’s definitely a lot harder as coach,” Hilder said.
“You don’t have any control once the girls are out on the field.
“As a player on the field, at least you have you have some sort of input.
“I had all faith in the girls and it was just silly mistakes.
“To lose by two points the way we did, there’s a lot we can take away.
“We bombed four tries.
“It’s been a great experience as my first coaching experience so it’s been good.”
Player ratings: Who handled the extreme Origin pressure?
NSW may have dominated early, but a controversial penalty in the closing stages handed the Maroons their second State of Origin win.
Who stood tall on the game’s biggest stage?
Check out the player ratings from a wild night in the Women’s State of Origin.
NEW SOUTH WALES
1. Botille Vette-Welsh – 8
One of her side’s best players. Gained more metres than anyone else on the field and was safe as a bank in difficult conditions.
2. Yasmin Meakes – 6
Didn’t get much ball but got through plenty of work from her own end.
3. Jess Sergis – 6
Lost her battle with Robinson but still had her moments in attack, particularly in yardage.
4. Isabelle Kelly – 8
Dangerous with every touch. The Blues most dynamic attacking player had plenty of ball and made the most of it.
5. Tiana Penitani – 7
Fought so hard amid heavy pressure from Queensland. Wore plenty of shots but kept coming back for more before injury slowed her down.
6. Corban Baxter – 6
Looked likely at times but didn’t see enough clean ball to really impose herself on the match.
7. Maddie Studdon – 5
Played a crucial role in Kelly’s try but struggled with her decision-making and had two bad errors early.
8. Simaima Taufa – 7
Few players are more consistent than Taufa, who once again put in a great stint in the middle of the field.
9. Keeley Davis – 7
Looked capable of breaking the game open in her second stint and can be proud of her belated debut.
10. Millie Boyle – 8
Superb. Led the way from the start and finished with the second-most metres of any Blues player.
11. Kezie Apps – 6
Tackled well, especially early, as she imposed herself on the game physically. Would have liked a few more chances in attack.
12. Sarah Togatuki – 6
Brought some vital energy after halftime and threw herself right into the game.
13. Hannah Southwell – 7
Battled back from an ankle injury early with a superb second stint in attack and defence.
14. Quincy Dodd – 6
Did her job around the ruck when she came on. Couldn’t break the game open though.
15. Filomina Hanisi – 5
Got through plenty of work but gave away the crucial penalty late in the game – although she was unfortunate to get pinged.
16. Kennedy Cherrington – 6
Was willing and physical when she came on and didn’t let anybody down.
17. Holli Wheeler – 6
Had to fill a variety of roles and did them all well.
TOTAL: 110
QUEENSLAND
1. Tamika Upton – 7
Wasn’t the fast, open game she loves but the Broncos star was safe and industrious at the back.
2. Shenae Ciesiolka – 6
Didn’t see much clean ball but was solid enough.
3. Lauren Brown – 6
No kick is easy when the game is on the line and Brown showed nerves of steel to kick the winner.
4. Julia Robinson – 7
Looked really dangerous whenever she got into space and won her battle with Sergis.
5. Karina Brown – 5
A bit of a quiet one in attack but kept it together when she had to.
6. Tarryn Aiken – 6
Not her style of game but had some nice touches in attack and helped link with the rest of her spine.
7. Zahara Temara – 7
Robust in attack and found some effective kicks as the match went on.
8. Chelsea Lenarduzzi – 8
Strong on both sides of the ball and came up with a crucial one-on-one steal late in the game, plus the final charge that earned the winning penalty.
9. Destiny Brill – 8
An excellent debut. Gave great service and looked dangerous when she ran. Has a huge future at this level.
10. Shannon Mato – 7
Doesn’t know how to take a backward step and gave as good as she got in the middle of the field.
11. Tazmin Gray – 8
Queensland’s best forward. Put on some brutal shots and got through a heap of work in attack.
12. Tiana Rafstrand-Smith – 7
Played her part to perfection and looked right at home when it came to the rough and tumble stuff.
13. Ali Brigginshaw – 8
A marvel. Ran it like a prop, directed play like a halfback, played like a footballer.
16. Shaniah Power – 5
Didn’t stand out but held her gloves up well enough.
17. Briana Clark – 6
Gave Queensland some punch in the middle of the field and played her part in the torrid exchanges in the middle.
18. Tallisha Harden – 5
Wasn’t fully fit but showed great courage to get on the field at all and helped inspire her teammates.
19. Rona Peters – 6
Gave Queensland some of the experience and leadership they needed in the dying minutes.
TOTAL: 112
BRAIN EXPLOSION HANDS MAROONS WIN IN ORIGIN THRILLER
Martin Gabor, Chris Honnery
We’ve experienced lockdowns, crackdowns and State of Origin beatdowns, but the only way for the women’s game is up after Queensland struck late to pip New South Wales 8-6 in a cracking contest on the Sunshine Coast.
But, as always, it was a controversial call that stole the headlines.
Chelsea Lenarduzzi went from zero to hero in the space of minutes after she conceded a penalty to allow the Sky Blues to tie things up at 6-all before she redeemed herself with two massive plays at the death.
The Queensland prop produced a one-on-one steal to rip the ball from Filomina Hanisi, and then earned her side a soft penalty with less than two minutes remaining when Hanisi pulled her leg as she tried to play the ball.
“Probably not best to comment right at the moment,” NSW coach Kylie Hilder said.
“It’s a really shit way to lose a game right on full-time. I’ll have to have a look at it again.”
It was a cruel blow for NSW who had been the better side for long stretches of the game as they looked to reclaim the shield after last year’s heartbreak.
“I thought she was milking it. It’s a really bad way to end a game. I’ll leave it at that,” skipper Kezie Apps said.
They may have started the night as outsiders, but New South Wales were fearless in wet and wild conditions as they shocked their rivals with expansive ball movement from the opening set in front of 7183 fans.
The visitors defied a gale to dominate the yardage in the first half, running for 595 metres compared to Queensland’s 459 led by Botille Vette-Welsh and Millie Boyle, who was just about the best player on the field.
But the Sky Blues couldn’t maintain their precision in attack, ending the night with 14 errors and a stack of penalties as ill-discipline cost them what would have been a famous victory.
“Our own little mistakes cost us,” Hilder lamented. “In Origin, you can’t do that.”
The Maroons weren’t overly clinical with ball in hand, with last year’s stars Tamika Upton and Tarryn Aiken struggling in slippery conditions, but their class shone through in the dying stages to make it back-to-back wins on the biggest stage.
“We found the Queensland passion, and that showed in the final 10 minutes,” captain Ali Brigginshaw said.
BRILL-IANT
Brigginshaw said in her pre-game interview that Destiny Brill “is the hooker of the future”, and as usual, the Maroons star was on the money.
Brill and Brigginshaw played together for the Diehards in the BHP Premiership Grand Final, and they were two of Queensland’s best, with the former scoring on debut with a dart from dummy-half.
The youngster went close earlier only to be held up by three NSW defenders, but she wasn’t going to be denied a second time as the Maroons punished their southern rivals.
She looks a star of the future and is certainly one to watch in the NRLW this season.
“What a player in the making,” coach Tahnee Norris said.
“We actually had money on the fact she was going to score a try.”
HAIRY SITUATION
It caused a stir last year when Amber Hall was charged for an ugly hair pull that injured Isabelle Kelly, and the worrying trend continued on Friday with replays showing Brigginshaw pulling Kennedy Cherrington’s hair.
The first half incident will likely come under scrutiny, and highlights a concerning tactic that needs to be removed from the game.
KELLY GANG
One of the biggest regrets from last year’s loss was the fact NSW didn’t give their star outside backs enough ball. It was never going to be an issue this time around, even if the conditions suggested otherwise.
Jess Sergis had a solid game even if she bombed what would have been one of the great Origin tries and the potential matchwinner, but centre partner Isabelle Kelly had no such problems as she stole the show on the left.
Kelly nearly scored with her first touch but wouldn’t be denied with her next carry when she fought through several would-be defenders to grab the opening try after four minutes.
She finished with 142 metres and nine tackle busts, but it was a different story for Maddie Studdon who had a night to forget with three errors.
REMEMBER THE NAME: DESTINY BRILL
She may only be 18-years-old but the young Queenslander has the nous and determination of a hardened veteran and on Friday night proved she has a bright future in the game.
Her performance for the Maroons was made all the more impressive considering she was on debut.
In a wet weather affair at Sunshine Coast Stadium, Brill finished the match with a crucial try, 26 tackles and four tackle breaks to prove to be a handful for the Blues defence.
After bursting onto the scene during the women’s National Championship tournament last month, Brill has made a name for herself following Friday’s Origin match.
She was first noticed by Maroons skipper Ali Brigginshaw during the statewide women’s BHP Premiership and rated her as one of the best young talents she has seen play the sport.
And now with the NRLW expanding to a six-team competition, expect to see much more of her.
Brill scored the one and only try for Queensland in Friday’s 8-6 thriller when she busted her way through three Blues opposition players to score in the 29th minute.
But her effort in defence was even more impressive.
The 153cm dummy half pulled off some bruising tackles in defence to limit the Blues to just the one try.
Queensland coach Tahnee Norris praised Brill’s performance and labelled her a future talent in the game.
“The little wombat,” Norris described her as.
“What a player in the making.
“She’s a standout player and she’s only 18 years of age.
“She has a massive future in our game.
“It’s so good to watch a kid that young on the big stage and so confident … I couldn’t be prouder.
“She was so good.”
While the Blues seemed to do their homework on Maroons stars Tamika Upton, Tarryn Aiken and Ali Brigginshaw, it was Brill who proved to be the difference on Friday night.
Meanwhile, New South Wales centre Isabelle Kelly was incredible for the Blues, running for a total 160 metres and making nine tackle breaks.
Queensland backrower Tazmin Gray took out the Player of the Match award for her bruising performance and bone-rattling tackles as the Maroons defence held off wave after wave of Blues attack.
“What a proud moment for every women’s player,” Brigginshaw said.
“It was gritty, it was ugly but we got the win.”
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