Queensland Maroons vs NSW Sky Blues: Women's State of Origin live scores, blog

State of Origin weekend starts tonight when the Queensland Maroons and NSW Sky Blues line up in the women’s clash at Sunshine Coast Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:45pm (AEST).

After being played at North Sydney Oval for the first two years, the Women’s State of Origin moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2020. It signalled a change fpr Queensland, breaking their State of Origin duck with a 24-18 victory.

While Ali Brigginshaw is the captain and chief organiser of the Maroons team, it was five-eighth Tarryn Aiken and fullback Tamika Upton that put NSW on the back foot early last year. A year more experienced, they will be keen to go back-to-back.

Chelsea Lenarduzzi and Shannon Mato form a big front row for Queensland, but they will be relying on Tallisha Harden and Rona Peters to get through their fitness tests.

For Maddie Studdon, this is a bit of a redemption story. After guiding NSW to victory in 2019, poor form cost her a spot in the team in 2020 and it hit the NSW half hard. She’s back, in form, and is a big threat to Queensland.

The Sky Blues will be looking to run plenty of their attack through Jess Sergis and Isabelle Kelly, both stars of this game.

Simaima Taufa and Millie Boyle make up a formidable front row, and we can’t way to see Hannah Southwell and her classic defence.

Prediction

Looking at the teams, NSW are probably the stronger side on paper. However, that doesn’t always count for much during Origin.

It will be close but I expect Queensland to even the ledger.

Queensland by 2

Game information

Kick-off: 7:45pm (AEST)
Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium
TV: Nine, Fox League
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, Foxtel Go, 9Now
Betting: Maroons $1.50, Blues $2.60 (odds via PlayUp)

Teams

Queensland
1. Tamika Upton 2. Shenae Ciesiolka 3. Lauren Brown 4. Julia Robinson 5. Karina Brown 6. Tarryn Aiken 7. Zahara Temara 8. Chelsea Lenarduzzi 9. Destiny Brill 10. Shannon Mato 11. Tazmin Gray 12. Tiana Raftstrand-Smith 13. Ali Brigginshaw (c)

Interchange:14. Romy Teitzel 15. Natassja Purontakanen 16. Shaniah Power 17. Brianna Clark
Reserves: 18. Tallisha Harden 19. Rona Peters

New South Wales
1. Botille Vette-Welsh 2. Yasmin Meakes 3. Jess Sergis 4. Isabelle Kelly 5. Tiana Penitani 6. Corban Baxter 7. Maddie Studdon 8. Simaima Taufa 9. Keeley Davis 10. Millie Boyle 11. Kezie Apps (c) 12. Sarah Togatuki 13. Hannah Southwell

Interchange: 14. Quincy Dodd 15. Filomina Hanisi 16. Kennedy Cherrington 17. Holli Wheeler
Reserves: 18. Brydie Parker 19. Renee Targett

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