QLD leave NSW heart-broken with final seconds victory

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New South Wales Women v Queensland Women

A 70th minute penalty to Queensland has continued the poor week for the people of New South Wales following the 8-6 victory to the Maroons in the 2021 Women's State Of Origin game on the Sunshine Coast.

New South Wales started the dominant of the two sides and took advantage of that dominance in just the sixth minute when Isabelle Kelly was able to cross after New South Wales were able to create space out wide after forcing Queensland to compress their defence. 

Queensland's debutant Destiny Brill quickly made a name for herself when she forced her way over the line only to be denied by both Belinda Sharpe on-field and Grant Atkins in the bunker when she was ruled to have been held up. The one moment of light for Queensland was nearly wiped out when a Hannah Southwell kick was spilt by the Maroons only for Tiana Penitani to lose it as she tried to get the ball to the goal line.

Errors continued to be the story of the night for NSW as good attacking position was wasted with errors from Maddie Studdon coughing up possession and good field position for NSW. The errors hurt New South Wales when Destiny Brill went over from dummy half after the Blues defenders were caught in two minds about what to do. A great conversion in the pouring rain gave Queensland 6-4 lead.

New South Wales blew an almost certain chance to score when the Blues were able to keep the ball alive before a great kick from Quincy Dodd landed in the lap of Jess Sergis who had a wide-open line only to put the catch down blowing the chance for NSW to go back into the lead.

The second half was an absolute arm-wrestle and it was New South Wales who were their own worst enemy in the contest with ill-discipline and errors again coming back to bite them heavily. The Blues had a chance to take the lead yet again when Millie Boyle was able to fight her way over the line only to lose the ball as she got her arms free of the tackle.
New South Wales were able to level the scores a few minutes later when Maddie Studdon added a penalty goal from right in front after Chelsea Lenarduzzi was penalised for a high tackle on Hannah Southwell.

Both sides had chances to extend the lead and Queensland temporarily took the lead when Tamika Upton crossed easily to score only for the Bunker to overturn the try after ruling that there was an obstruction in the lead-up despite it looking as if there was no NSW player obstructed in the lead-up.

On the stroke of full-time came what is set to be one of the most talked about moments in State of Origin history when Queensland were awarded a penalty for ruck interference despite replays showing the call to be a very harsh one against the Blues. The penalty from right in front gave Queensland an 8-6 lead which they protected for the final 30 seconds to take their second Origin in a row.