New South Wales claim first blood in Origin opener

QUEENSLAND 12 NEW SOUTH WALES 32
TOM SMITH, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Thursday

KEELEY Davis’ eye-gouge allegation overshadowed New South Wales’ impressive defeat of Queensland in the women’s Origin series opener.

Davis approached referee Belinda Sharpe in the wake of Isabelle Kelly’s try in the 15th minute to accuse an unnamed Queenslander of an eye gouge, lighting the fuse on a typically fiery interstate clash the Blues ran away with.

Recalled halfback Jesse Southwell pulled the strings for the visitors, while the first-gamers shared a debut to remember, with first-year coach John Strange, who led the Roosters to last year’s NRLW title, made a perfect start to his Origin career.

Winger Jayme Fressard bagged a brace, prop Ellie Johnston and fullback Abbi Church both crossed, and playmaker Jocelyn Kelleher added punch off the bench.

Queensland trailed by just two at the break, after Sienna Lofipo and debutant Rory Owen scored early. But the Blues’ rookies combined for three late tries to draw first blood in the three-game contest.

The New South Welshwomen claimed last year’s series opener 22-12 at the same venue, before the Queenslanders fought back to retain the shield. And they got their 2025 campaign off to an even better start in enemy territory, roared on by a huge crowd of 26,022 before Magic Round across the weekend in Brisbane.

Experienced Queensland coach Tahnee Norris and Strange both named new-look teams for the 2025 series opener.

Reigning Nellie Doherty Medal holder Shannon Mato and winger Evania Pelite went out of the Queensland line-up with pregnancy, opening the door for Owen, Tavarna Papalii, Jasmine Peters and Jada Ferguson to make their interstate bows.

The Blues also missed front-rowers Millie Elliott and Caitlan Johnston, who are both expecting babies, which helped hand debuts to Johnston, Church, Fressard and Kelleher.

All eyes were on the halves, as gun Queensland pairing Tarryn Aiken and Ali Brigginshaw — supported by the superb Tamika Upton at fullback — took on Tiana Penitani, shifted to standoff from the wing, and Southwell, recalled after being overlooked last season.

But Southwell and Penitani clearly claimed the honours.

Jessica Sergis sliced through first for the Blues, before Lofipo snaffled a mishandled Aiken bomb to level matters. Kelly completed a slick movement in the left corner, with Davis lodging her complaint in the aftermath, and Fressard nabbed her first in almost identical fashion moments later.

But Owen’s reply up the other end shaved the gap to just two at the change of ends.

The second half, however, was entirely sky blue. Fressard snatched her second six minutes after the restart, and Johnston’s barge-over — making light work of three would-be tacklers — had the Blues well on top with 20 minutes to play.

Southwell booted a penalty goal to stretch the lead beyond two converted tries, then it was party time when Church dashed over with little more than five minutes remaining.

The Blues couldn’t ask for a better chance of claiming the shield for the first time since 2022, with the remaining two matches south of the Tweed River.

The compressed women’s Origin series now heads to Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Thursday 15 May, before Game Three in Newcastle on Thursday 29 May.

GAMESTAR: NSW halfback Jesse Southwell returned to the Origin arena in style, guiding the Blues to victory in enemy territory.

GAMEBREAKER: Abbi Church’s 65th-minute try — joining Jayme Fressard and Ellie Johnston as debutants on the scoresheet — made sure of NSW’s win.

MATCHFACTS
MAROONS
1 Tamika Upton (Brisbane Broncos)
2 Julia Robinson (Brisbane Broncos)
3 Shenae Ciesiolka (Brisbane Broncos)
4 Rory Owen (Parramatta Eels)
5 Jasmine Peters (North Queensland Cowboys)
6 Tarryn Aiken (Sydney Roosters)
7 Ali Brigginshaw (Brisbane Broncos)
8 Keilee Joseph (Brisbane Broncos)
9 Lauren Brown (Gold Coast Titans)
10 Jessika Elliston (Gold Coast Titans)
11 Sienna Lofipo (Gold Coast Titans)
12 Romy Teitzel (Brisbane Broncos)
13 Destiny Brill (Brisbane Broncos)
Subs (all used)
14 Jada Ferguson (Brisbane Broncos)
15 Sophie Holyman (Canberra Raiders)
16 Makenzie Weale (North Queensland Cowboys)
17 Tavarna Papalii (Sydney Roosters)

Tries: Lofipo (8), Owen (25)
Goals: Brown 2/2

BLUES
1 Abbi Church (Parramatta Eels)
2 Jaime Chapman (Gold Coast Titans)
3 Jessica Sergis (Sydney Roosters)
4 Isabelle Kelly (Sydney Roosters)
5 Jayme Fressard (Sydney Roosters)
6 Tiana Penitani (Cronulla Sharks)
7 Jesse Southwell (Newcastle Knights)
8 Simaima Taufa (Canberra Raiders)
9 Keeley Davis (Sydney Roosters)
10 Ellie Johnston (Cronulla Sharks)
11 Kezie Apps (Wests Tigers)
12 Yasmin Clydsdale (Newcastle Knights)
13 Olivia Kernick (Sydney Roosters)
Subs (all used)
14 Jocelyn Kelleher (Sydney Roosters)
15 Kennedy Cherrington (Parramatta Eels)
16 Sarah Togatuki (Wests Tigers)
17 Emma Verran (Cronulla Sharks)