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Queensland deny Blues series whitewash with victory in Newcastle

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Match report: Deflating end to series for Blues after Queensland snag final win

By Robert Dillon

MAROONS 18, BLUES 14

Queensland skipper Ali Brigginshaw has vowed to play on and her NSW counterpart Isabelle Kelly shed tears at the post-match press conference after the Maroons’ 18-14 victory in State of Origin III on Thursday.

After NSW claimed the series with back-to-back wins in Brisbane and Sydney, they had a chance in Newcastle to become the first women’s team in history to record a 3-0 whitewash.

Queensland captain Ali Brigginshaw and Makenzie Weale embrace at full-time.

Queensland captain Ali Brigginshaw and Makenzie Weale embrace at full-time.Credit: Getty Images

But Queensland saved their best until last to avoid a clean sweep, and Brigginshaw vowed afterwards to return next season to try and reclaim the title.

“I do want to play keep playing on,” 35-year-old Brigginshaw said, admitting she had been “hurt” by the conjecture.

“I think people just look at your age and think that that’s enough. There were still comments out there tonight about when I’m going to retire.

“I still love my footy and if I get picked I get picked, but I’m not saying that people have to pick me, just because I’ve been here before. I want to prove that I can play in this jersey and hopefully I did that tonight. I’ll do whatever it takes for this jersey.”

Kelly, meanwhile, became emotional and shed tears when asked by the media about a try that was disallowed by the bunker because she failed to ground the ball while sliding over the line.

“I’m obviously someone that gets quite disappointed when I let my team down,” Kelly said. “It makes me a bit emotional right now.”

Isabelle Kelly in the Maroons in-goal.

Isabelle Kelly in the Maroons in-goal.Credit: Getty Images

At that point, NSW coach John Strange spoke up to allow Kelly to regain her composure.

“That’s why she is who she is,” Strange said. “That’s why she’s captain of her state. I’ve worked with Izzy for a long time and she’s a great leader.

“She’s an inspiration to all the girls she plays with and all the younger girls who look up to her, and she’s an inspiration to me as well.”

Adding to the emotion of the match was NSW bench forward Sarah Togutuki, who played following the death of her sister on the weekend, and suffered a head knock that forced her from the field.

“She’s had a really tough couple of weeks, Sarah, for personal reasons, so it was just really great to get her out there, and represent her sister and her family,” Strange said.

“We’re all really proud of her for doing what she did today ... I don’t know if anyone else could have done that. I don’t know if I could have, after losing a sister on Saturday.”

Kennedy Cherrington and Sarah Togatuki lift the Origin shield.

Kennedy Cherrington and Sarah Togatuki lift the Origin shield.Credit: Getty Images

Kelly said Togutuki’s courage was an inspiration for her teammates.

“I feel really honoured and lucky to pull on a jersey alongside her,” Kelly said.

Strange said satisfaction after winning the series overrode any disappointment about losing game three.

“We’ve had a goal to win the series, we’ve done that, and the girls have worked really hard to achieve that, so it’s been awesome,” he said.

After leading by eight points midway through the second half, the Blues were unable to withstand a late Queensland fightback that sent a parochial crowd of 21,912 home disappointed.

It was a try from utility Jocelyn Kelleher from dummy-half that handed the Blues a confident lead, before Maroons backrower Romy Teitzel hit back with a try to make it a two-point ball game.

That was before Lenarduzzi bulldozed her way over from close range to give her team the lead.

NSW had one last chance to salvage a win, or at least take the game to golden point, when they received a penalty for a professional foul from Leanarduzzi on full-time.

The Queensland prop was subsequently sent to the bin, leaving NSW with an extra player on the field and a last-ditch effort to take the win.

But the Maroons had done enough in the end, and managed to salvage a win for veteran skipper Ali Brigginshaw who may have played her last match in Queensland colours.

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Stats after 70 minutes

Lenarduzzi sent to the bin on full-time

The 2025 women’s State of Origin series is officially over, and although Queensland have won the match, the Blues have won the series.

It was a dramatic ending in Newcastle, after a professional foul from Chelsea Lenarduzzi had her marching to the sin-bin on the full-time siren, giving NSW a last-ditch attempt to regain the lead.

But the Maroons had done enough in the end, and walked away with a 18-14 victory over NSW.

Queensland take the lead with try for Lenarduzzi

The Maroons might just salvage part of the series yet, with Chelsea Lenarduzzi charging over the line to give Queensland the lead with five minutes left in the match.

Kezie Apps, Simaima Taufa and Abbi Church all tried to stop the Queensland lock, but Lenarduzzi was too powerful to stop.

Lauren Brown nails the conversion and the Maroons have a four-point lead.

Maroons 18, Blues 14 with five minutes to go

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Fressard error keeps Queensland hopes alive

The door is open for Queensland after Jayme Fressard drops a Lauren Brown bomb.

She had a crack at catching it, but the pressure from Makenzie Weale from the kick chase forced the error.

The Maroons get a scrum feed 30 metres out from the NSW line.

Blues 14, Maroons 12 with seven minutes to go

Togatuki off after head clash

Concerning signs for NSW enforcer Sarah Togatuki, who hits the deck after a head clash with Tavarna Papalii.

Togatuki looks dazed and stumbles to her feet before the trainers helped her from the field.

Blues 14, Maroons 12 with nine minutes to go

Bobby’s view: NSW need to attack rather than defend

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Teitzel try narrows the gap to NSW

Queensland hit back with a much-needed try to keep NSW close as we enter the final 15 minutes of this match.

The grubber from Tarryn Aiken is beautifully placed, and Romy Teitzel finds the gap to ground the ball before Jesse Southwell or Abbi Church can get to it.

Lauren Brown nails the conversion which means it’s just two points the difference.

Blues 14, Maroons 12

Kelleher opens scoring for NSW in second half

The 2025 NSW debutantes have now all scored in this series, with utility Jocelyn Kelleher crossing the line to open the scoring in this half.

Ali Brigginshaw fell for the Kelleher dummy and Chelsea Lenarduzzi is too slow out of marker to stop Kelleher scoring from dummy-half.

Blues 14, Maroons 6 with 20 minutes to go

Apps linebreak opens door for NSW

The Blues are charging toward the Maroons line following a linebreak from Kezie Apps and a penalty for Ellie Johnston after she was coat-hangered by Chelsea Lenarduzzi.

Blues 8, Maroons 6 with 22 minutes to go

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Original URL: https://www.watoday.com.au/sport/nrl/women-s-state-of-origin-2025-live-nsw-v-queensland-in-game-three-in-newcastle-20250529-p5m39m.html