NSW women make perfect start to Origin weekend

The last time North Sydney Oval came alive for a rugby league match was 12 months ago when the inaugural women’s State of Origin match was played.

On Friday night, the venue hosted episode two of what seems likely to become another New South Wales vs Queensland rivalry to savour.

The crowd was throbbing prior to kick-off and filled with young and ambitious faces, dreaming of one day representing their state in the pinnacle of domestic rugby league.

If there was any chance of the players not meeting the expectations of the fans or the sense of occasion, it was snuffed out immediately.

Both sides launched into the contest with the expected vigour yet willing defence saw an early arm wrestle develop. Only nervous errors prevented the Blues from finding points down the right edge.

Jenni-Sue Hoepper swung the momentum for the Queenslanders with a crafty 40-30 kick in the 12th minute and only a dubious forward pass decision prevented the Maroons from opening the scoring soon after.

The introduction of Steph Hancock gave the Maroons the forward punch they lacked in the early moments yet they too suffered from miscommunication and hesitancy late in the tackle count, failing to earn repeat sets and allowing the Blues to return serve.

Brittany Breayley hit the deck with what looked a serious leg injury in the 23rd minute yet shook it off quickly, continuing to provide the vision and decision-making from dummy-half that makes the Queenslanders such a dangerous and professional team.

The Maroons’ pressure grew late in the half on the back of dominant possession and Tazmin Gray crashed over on the right edge for the opening try of the night.

New South Wales lifted in the final moments yet Kirra Dibb and Maddie Studdon, who had failed to link effectively with their outside players on numerous occasions in the first half, couldn’t crack the line.

NSW star Maddie Studdon is swamped by Blues team-mates. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Much of that lack of efficiency in attack could be attributed to the aggressive defence of the Queenslanders. Chelsea Lenarduzzi and Hancock led the way and Ali Brigginshaw confirmed her class with shrewd ball distribution and superb organisation in attack.

The Maroons led 4-0 at the break yet Andrew Patmore’s half-time talk did wonders for the Blues and they came out firing.

If not for Shakiah Tungai’s bombing of a certain try from a grubber kick into the in-goal area just four minutes into the half, the Blues would have restored parity.

Yet the home side was not to be denied and Dibb fired a long ball to Jessica Sergis who crossed on the right wing just four minutes later. The second missed conversion of the night saw the scores stay level at 4-4 with 20 minutes remaining and that tense Origin feel was palpable once again.

Much of the New South Wales revival was due to the inspirational play of Holli Wheeler, whose toughness around the centre of the ruck and efforts to inspire her team were noticeable.

That inspiration paid off when Tungai crossed in the 46th minute after a 40-30 kick was followed by an effective shift to the left. At 8-4 and a traditional Queensland comeback on the cards, the Blues needed composure.

They showed it and Queensland did not.

A kick out on the full by Hoepper gave the Blues field position and Studdon cut through the line to score alongside the posts. Dibb’s conversion sent the southerners to a 14-4 lead with just nine minutes remaining.

Queensland had a golden chance to cross the line, yet a forward pass from Brigginshaw halted their attack and New South Wales managed the game well over the final four minutes to ice consecutive State of Origin wins.

More than 10,500 people crammed into North Sydney Oval and were treated to some excellent rugby league and brilliant individual performances.

Both Sergis and Tungai were superb on the flanks, Isabelle Kelly was instrumental on the left edge and Dibb and Studdon controlled the second half in the halves.

Heather Ballinger, Brigginshaw and Lenarduzzi stood out for the Maroons, on a night when they lacked that killer punch to find points when they had the Blues under pressure.

Should the men’s team be able to channel the polish shown by the New South Wales women in their 14-0 second-half performance, the Maroons had best beware when they face Brad Fittler’s new-look team at Optus Stadium on Sunday night.