New South Wales have enacted revenge on Queensland by winning the 2025 Women’s State of Origin Series with a game to spare, following a 26-6 victory at the Allianz Stadium.
After being trumped 2-1 by the Maroons in 2024, the Blues backed up their victory in Brisbane with a dominant performance, despite conceding an and slightly bizarre try, scored by Brisbane Broncos full-back Tamika Upton.
The horrendous, torrential conditions appeared to wreak havoc from the off with reigning Dally M medallist Olivia Kernick being left baffled by an early decision from the officials.
She appeared to fail to control a cutely weighted grubber kick from Tarryn Aiken into the Blue’s in-goal area.
The ball bobbled and Kenrick fell onto it but it slipped out of her control with Upton reacting quickly to touch down for the Marooons.
Kernick claimed she had grounded the ball for a drop out but match officials said she had been trying to gather it, rather than ground it and allowed the try to stand.
The Roosters star was left fuming and asked referee Belinda Sharpe: ‘Are you kidding?!’
Despite that, the Blues would go on to dominate in the first half, with tempers flaring just before half-time.
Queensland star Chelsea Lenarduzzi had looked to make a mistake just before the break, with Kennedy Cherrington appearing to get in her face over the error.
A frosty mele ensued as both sets of players rushed into the brawl but tempers quickly settled, with referee, Sharpe, calling on both captains to tell their players to calm down.
Simaima Taufa, Olivia Kernick, Jayme Fressard and Jaime Chapman would all cross the tryline to give the Blues a commanding lead heading into the final 20 minutes of the match.
And it was plain sailing from there, with Kernick touching down to seal the win for New South Wales.
More to follow…
