AS IT HAPPENED: Queensland claim Women's Origin opener, NSW captain felled with nasty injury

The Women’s State of Origin gets underway tonight when NSW take on Queensland at CommBank Stadium in Sydney. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:45pm (AEST).

With the continuing growth in the women’s game, we get two Women’s Origin clashes this year. Sydney will host Game 1, whilst Game 2 will be heading to Townsville.

The Blues will be desperate for a win on home turf. NSW are the defending champions, winning 20-14 last year in Canberra, The win was built off the metres gained by the Blues back five.

Isabelle Kelly, Jess Sergis and Emma Tonegato are stars of the women’s game and will be looking for big performances again tonight. Jesse Southwell and Rachael Pearson are quality halfbacks, but they have never played together before. Their ability to gel for the first game will be critical.

The Blues’ pack will be missing tackling machine Hannah Southwell. However with Millie Boyle and Kezie Apps in the front row, the NSW forwards will take some beating.

NSW may have won last year, but the Maroons won the two years prior to that. The core of that team is still here tonight, with Ali Brigginshaw, Tarryn Aiken and Tamika Upton all playing.

Zahara Temara will play in the halves with Aiken and has herself had plenty of Origin experience. They do outpoint the Blues halves in terms of experience at this level.

The Queensland forward pack follows a different path however, with Keilee Joseph, Shaniah Power and Destiny Brill forming a young front row. Brigginshaw’s selection at lock gives the Maroons a further ball playing option but will also ensure the defence is tight around the ruck.

Prediction

The Women’s Origin games are traditionally tight and this will be no different.

I’m favouring NSW, due to the home ground factor and also the match-winning ability of their outside backs.

NSW by 6 points

Game information

Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 7:45pm (AEST)
TV: Nine Network, Fox League
Streaming: Kayo Sports, 9Now
Odds: NSW $1.45, Queensland $2.75 – odds via PlayUp

Teams

NSW

1. Emma Tonegato 2. Jaime Chapman 14. Taliah Fuimaono 4. Isabelle Kelly 3. Jessica Sergis 6. Jesse Southwell 7. Rachael Pearson 13. Kennedy Cherrington 9. Keeley Davis 10. Millie Boyle 11. Olivia Kernick 12. Yasmin Clydsdale 16. Brooke Anderson

Reserves: 8. Kezie Apps 15. Sarah Togatuki 17. Shaylee Bent 19. Quincy Dodd 18. Ellie Johnston

Queensland

1.Tamika Upton 2. Julia Robinson 3. Shenae Ciesiolka 4. Evania Pelite 5. Emily Bass 6. Tarryn Aiken 7. Zahara Temara 8. Shannon Mato 9. Destiny Brill 10. Keilee Joseph 11. Tazmin Gray 12. Shaniah Power 13. Ali Brigginshaw

Reserves: 14. Emma Manzelmann 15. Jessika Elliston 16. Sophie Holyman 17. Romy Teitzel 18. China Polata 19. Makenzie Weale