Women’s State of Origin Game 1: Live scores, updates and analysis from Queensland Maroons v NSW Blues

From a hair pull to an eye gauge, the women’s State of Origin series opener was full of memorable and controversial moments. In the end though, Queensland had no answers for the rampant NSW Blues.

NSW coach John Strange has revealed Keeley Davis was bitten in last year’s Origin series, compelling the Blues hooker to lodge a complaint over an eye gouging incident on Thursday night.

Game one in Brisbane was rocked by an eye gouge allegation, as NSW took the series lead with a win 32-12 over Queensland.

NSW skipper Isabelle Kelly appeared to make an official complaint against a Maroons player in the first half, alleging star Blues hooker Keeley Davis was the victim of an eye gouge.

Channel 9 reported Maroons backrower Romy Teitzel was the alleged culprit.

The incident was placed on report by referee Belinda Sharpe for review.

It’s believed the incident occurred in the lead-up to Kelly’s try in the 14th minute, where after one hit-up Davis motioned towards her face at the referee.

The incident will come under further scrutiny by the match review committee on Friday morning.

Both Strange and Maroons coach Tahnee Norris insisted they had no knowledge of which Queennsland player committed the act of foul play.

Strange revealed it wasn’t the first time Davis has been at the centre of foul play during Origin.

“She told me she got bit last year,” Strange revealed.

Kelly had warned Davis not to let any foul play go unreported in this year’s series.

“She let it go under (the table). I said if anything happens this time, I said ‘make sure you tell me’,” Kelly said.

Keeley Davis. Picture: NRL Photos

“She’s a professional and she was great tonight. I knew the (incident) wasn’t going to affect her.

“I told the girls to come to me with anything if they need to and that’s exactly what they did.

“We’ll see what comes of it.”

Blues playmaker Tiana Penitani Gray was penalised and put on report for a hair-pull on Maroons skipper and fullback Tamika Upton.

Penitani-Gray is unlikely to be rubbed out of game two of the series, which is headed for Allianz Stadium in Sydney in two weeks, over the incident.

Replays appeared to show Penitani-Gray’s hair pull on Upton was incidental, as the Blues five-eighth attempted to grab Upton’s jersey.

Izzy Kelly's amazing try assist.

SIX AND SEVENS

Tiana Penitani-Grey and Jesse Southwell were NSW’s nine halves combination in 11 games but the duo out-gunned their more experienced opposition in Tarryn Aiken and Ali Bringginshaw.

Southwell, who was overlooked for the Blues in last year’s series, set-up two tries and three-line break assists in Thursday night’s win, taking on the Maroons line all night long.

Tarryn Aiken looked the most likely to wrestle the game back in the Maroons favour, the five-eighth was Queensland’s biggest threat in attack but fell short on Thursday night.

Jesse Southwell was sensational. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

KEZZIE KILLING IT

Wests Tigers captain Kezie Apps capped off a bumper week, after re-siging a massive deal at Concord until the end of 2029, with a characteristic workhorse display on Thursday night.

Kezie Apps drags down Tamika Upton. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Her momentum changing runs helped put the Blues on the front in the first half and the forward did not take a backwards step in the final 35 minutes either.

But Apps was not alone, Blues prop Sarah Togatuki was just as bruising in defense, making every tackle count. Simaima Taufa, Ellie Johnston and Kennedy Cherrington were all just as impressive for the Blues pack.

“The physical confrontation out here is immense,” Phil Gould said on Thursday night.

“There’s plenty in the tackles really belting into each other. No wonder the balls come loose there. Both teams really pumped up for this Origin one.

SUNCORP STADIUM TURF

Over 3,500 square metres of turf was removed in the lead-up to Thursday night’s clash after the stadium was left chopped up, and worse for wear, having hosted the Broncos, Queensland Reds and Brisbane Roar over the Anzac Day long weekend.

The patch-work job held up pretty well under the weight of 70 minutes of Origin football, the real test will come over the next three days.

“It’s been a big topic this week and replaced over 60% of the grass,” Darren Lockyer said on Channel 9.

“I ran into the head groundsman in the tunnels before the game, and they’ve been working three days straight. Last night (Wednesday) they went past midnight, so a big effort from them.

“It looks good.”