The NSW blues have made history becoming the first Women's State of Origin champions after their hard fought 16-10 victory over Queensland in front of a bumper crowd of 6,824 at the historic North Sydney Oval.
Both sides started the game with solid sets as they worked the nerves out of their system with solid ball running to start the game. The Blues had the opening chance after just six minutes when Queensland fullback Chelsea Brown coughed up possession in the ruck. The Blues looked to spread the ball wide from the scrum but they're opening chance came to nothingwhen Nakia Davis-Welsh couldn't handle a slick pass.
The Blues were able to take the next chance that cames their way with an almost identical play that this time came off when New South Wales swung the ball from right to left and they got the opening four pointer through Isabelle Kelly. The Blues extended their lead with a stunning conversion from out wide off the boot of Maddie Studdon.
The Maroons were able to hit back soon after off the back of a penalty when they caught the NSW defence napping by going down the short side on last tackle and Karina Brown got the ball down in the corner although it was sent to the bunker to confirm that Brown stayed in the field of play. The try was awarded and after Chelsea Baker put her own stunning conversion over the scores were level.
Both sides continued to test each other out but couldn't create anything more than half chances although the best chance for QLD came on the stroke of half time when QLD pulled out a set play from a scrum and it was only Kezie Apps coming from nowhere that saved the day for NSW and the two sides went to the break at 6 all. The second half began with the big hits and big runs that we saw in the first half and it was NSW who were able to get on the board first in the second half. The first try came through some great work of the NSW halves O'Mealey and Studdon who spread the ball wide and Nakia Davis-Welsh made amends for the ball she dropped in the first half when she crossed for NSWs second try.
The Maroons like the first half weren't going to let the game slip away from them and they hit back with just over ten minutes to go when Ali Brigginshaw put her class on show as she ran to the line and caught the Blues defence napping before giving it out to QLD captain Karina Brown who had her second. The Maroons were unlucky not to go ahead with Chelsea Baker hitting a good looking conversion attempt only for it to not bend enough and bounce off the uprights.
Both sides were looking to get that late try to seal the game and a six again call with some excellent desperation to get to the ball from Lavina O'Mealey after a Maddie Studdon kick was touched and the Blues went into attack. The Blues took advantage of their field position with some more good work from Sam Bremner who turned on the footwork and hdad the QLD defence standing off her before giving the ball to Isabelle Kelly who sealed the win with her second try of the game.
The Queenslander's had a late chance when Kezie Apps put the ball down in bad field position for the Blues. The Blues defence stood up when Rhiannon Revell-Blair took off from dummy half to go for the line but she was bundled into touch by at least 5 of the NSW players to save the day. QLD had one last chance inside the final minute but the NSW outside backs were awake to it and NSW had won the game.