NSW captain Isabelle Kelly in hospital after suffering a hit to her throat against Queensland

A win for Queensland on Thursday night was overshadowed by a serious injury which sent the NSW captain to hospital.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 01: Tamika Upton and Julia Robinson of the Maroons check on the injured Isabelle Kelly of the Blues during game one of the Women's State of Origin series between New South Wales and Queensland at CommBank Stadium on June 01, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

There are serious concerns for NSW skipper Isabelle Kelly after the superstar centre was taken to hospital with a throat injury as Queensland held on to win 18-10 in the women’s State of Origin opener in Sydney.

The Maroons are in the box seat to reclaim the shield but it’s far from over thanks to the new rules brought in this year that sees the series winner decided by aggregate after two games.

That’s little comfort for the Sky Blues who lost Kelly just before halftime to a tackle that is likely to earn the ire of the match review committee.

The NSW captain was trying to make a tackle on Jillaroos teammate Julia Robinson but copped an elbow directly to the throat from her Queensland rival who showed immediate concern.

Kelly was in immediate discomfort and struggled to breathe as she was taken from the field by two trainers.

“She’s in hospital. She’s not great. There are concerns around her throat,” NSW coach Kylie Hilder said.

Obvious concern for Isabelle Kelly who is off with a throat injury, nasty mechanism with direct blow from elbow. Worry by video for larynx contusion/fracture, obstruction of airway the immediate concern. Fingers crossed not as bad as it looks for her #Origin#WomensOriginpic.twitter.com/eF0bUxc72R

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 1, 2023

The incident wasn’t penalised but Robinson was placed on report after Tazmin Gray crashed over to give the visitors a 10-6 lead at the break.

“It’s a big concern for me when we’ve got a player on the ground in discomfort and not in a great way and she was struggling to breathe,” Hilder said.

“I am very worried and concerned about her now.

“I still don’t know why there wasn’t a penalty for that when she was hit in the throat.

“There was a lot going on in the sheds (at halftime). We had an ambulance come in for ‘Issie’. She was in a lot of discomfort so there was a fair bit of noise coming as well. We had to rally the girls.”

Maroons skipper Ali Brigginshaw was surprised play wasn’t stopped to check on Kelly’s welfare.

“When Robbo runs, she runs hard. I didn’t see anything of it,” she said.

“I was kind of shocked that play didn’t stop. I’m not the ref so I don’t make the decisions.”

QUEENS OF THE UPSET

It was far from clinical but the Maroons are 70 minutes away from winning back the shield after the rank outsiders proved too good in front of 12,972 fans at CommBank Stadium.

Robinson was the chief destroyer with a try in each half for the Maroons against a NSW side that looked rushed in attack and struggled to execute their set plays.

Thursday’s result means Queensland just have to avoid a nine-point loss in Townsville in three weeks’ time, with their superior kicking game and poise under pressure making them the raging hot favourites.

“It’s irrelevant. We’ve just got to win both games,” Queensland coach Tahnee Norris replied when asked whether aggregate would influence her side’s approach to game two.

“We definitely know that we don’t want to drop a game ever.”

Julia Robinson of the Maroons celebrates with her teammates after scoring a try (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

CHAPMAN’S FAST CAR

Josh Addo-Carr faces stiff competition if he wants to keep his title of fastest man on the planet, but there is no such doubt in the women’s game with Jaime Chapman showing off her incredible speed to save a certain try.

Queensland looked certain to score when Shenae Ciesiolka intercepted a Jesse Southwell pass and set off for the try line, but Chapman had other ideas.

Despite giving her rival a 10-metre head start, the NSW winger hit the accelerator and reeled her in with a tackle that will be replayed for years.

It was all for nothing, however, as Queensland shifted it to the other side of the field where Emily Bass crashed over to make it 14-6 five minutes into the second half.

Chapman was rewarded later on when she crossed in the left corner to cap a terrific Origin debut.

“That’s what you expect from a fats winger like ‘Chappo’,” her coach said.

FIRST MINUTE MADNESS

We’ve seen some bad challenges over the years, but the Maroons may have raised the bar after they blew theirs inside the opening 60 seconds on Thursday night.

It’s a good thing the scores weren’t close at the death because they wasted a potential opportunity to overturn a bad call with a brain snap just a few tackles into the contest.

Skipper Ali Brigginshaw will have to think twice about trusting Shannon Mato after the prop ordered a challenge when she lost the ball near halfway.

Originally published as NSW captain Isabelle Kelly in hospital after suffering a hit to her throat against Queensland