Queensland trailblazer Ali Brigginshaw fears she has played her last Maroons campaign after series loss

After 17 years of wearing her heart on her sleeve in the Maroons jersey, Queensland pioneer and NRLW trailblazer Ali Brigginshaw fears this series could be the last time she pulls on a Queensland jersey.

An emotional Ali Brigginshaw fears she has played her last State of Origin game for Queensland after a 26-6 series loss to NSW on Thursday night.

In tears while speaking to media at Allianz Stadium, the 35-year-old spoke about the pain of losing the series in back-to-back games.

And after 17 years of wearing her heart on her sleeve in the Maroons jersey, the Queensland pioneer and NRLW trailblazer fears Thursday night could be her last.

“I’ve been here a long time so you never know when it’s going to be your last,” she said.

“We try and we train so hard and we sacrifice so much being away from home and what it means to wear this jersey, I think I’ve been here 16 years so it’s been quite a long time.

“Winning is great, but losing hurts and I guess if I didn’t have any emotions, the game wouldn’t mean a lot to me.

“It means a lot to me, it means a lot to the girls, you see a lot of tears because we train our bloody arses off to be in this competition, so I guess if we were out there cheering and carrying on, we’d be asking why we’re doing that after we’ve just lost.”

Ali Brigginshaw was emotional after the game. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Brigginshaw’s outpouring of emotion follows a tough two games for the halfback, who has struggled to get into the contest.

Five-eighth Tarryn Aiken was also kept quiet in Thursday night’s loss as the NSW forward pack took hold early and didn’t let up.

By contrast, 20-year-old Blues halfback Jesse Southwell was outstanding after being recalled to the team this year.

“I was watching her before she came into the NRLW, athletically very good, a strong runner, her passing skills are great both ways, and for me I thought she would be a great person to coach,” said NSW coach John Strange.

“She’s got a really high ceiling and I don’t think she’s reached it yet.”

Southwell will get the chance to make it a whitewash at her home stadium in Newcastle in a fortnight, which would be a first for women’s rugby league.

It follows a muddy masterclass in Thursday night’s four-try victory, including a double for player of the match Olivia Kernick.

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.

Jesse Southwell has been a shining star for the Blues. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

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.

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.

Any doubt on the lone tryscorer Upton will be a huge blow to the Maroons.