Queensland 18-10 New South Wales
After a close 1st half, Queensland went onto to lead for the whole 2nd half despite a final unsuccessful push by NSW to win Game 1 of an expanded 2-game Women’s State Of Origin & thereby, lead by 8 points going into the final match.
Photograph: Women’s State Of Origin © Gregg Porteous
Women’s State Of Origin 2023 begun with Indigenous singer, Rebecca Hatch, building up the atmosphere for the record crowd of 12,972 with a singer-disc jockey duet set in the 30 minutes to kick-off, which concluded with a pyrotechnic display. Unlike in the men’s edition, this pre-match entertainment was not televised. The customary Welcome To Country, conducted by Aunty Julie Jones and performance of the National Anthem, sung by the Australian Girls Choir, then followed and was televised. The Women’s State Of Origin shield was waiting on the sidelines. Preceding all this, 2 hours prior to kick-off, was a RISE Rookies rugby league match between New South Wales (NSW) Blue Vs NSW Navy, an exhibition match comprising of aspiring athletes aged 17 and over. NSW Blue won 28-8.
Anyway, to the main game. Queensland scored the opening try (Julia Robinson) but crucially, missed the conversion, leaving their lead open to attack by NSW. Shortly after, New South Wales respond with determination by scoring its only converted try (Jessica Sergis). New South Wales were leading 6-4.
In a scary moment, NSW captain Isabelle Kelly, while attempting a tackle, injured her throat which resulted in her struggling for breath, vomiting blood and making an immediate trip to hospital, which, being in Parramatta, is not far away.
Shortly after, just as half-time approached, Queensland scored its only converted try (Tazmin Gray). At half-time, the score was 10-6 in favour of Queensland – just like in the men’s edition.
During half-time, a Little Origin match was held between William Stimson Public School & Kurnell Public School.
Unlike in the men’s edition, Queensland got off to a flyer in the 2nd half with 2 tries (Emily Bass & Julia Robinson) in quick succession, though both were not converted. New South Wales managed to respond with another try (Jaime Chapman), though unconverted & though dominating the game towards its conclusion, couldn’t reach the try line to make up the rest of Queensland’s lead in the final 25 minutes, giving Queensland the win in Game 1 & the lead in the expanded 2-game series.
The successful conversions were kicked by Zahara Temara for Queensland & Jesse Southwell for New South Wales.
The final score was Queensland 18-10 New South Wales. Under the rules of the expanded Women’s State Of Origin, the winner of the series is the team with the highest aggregate points after Game 2 and if they are tied, it will be the team with the most tries, which Queensland also leads 4-2. So, effectively, we are at half time in 4 quarter game with 2 quarters at home and 2 quarters away.
The girls were outstanding tonight. Just the effort, we saw the boys do it last night and I think the girls got a bit of a lift from that. They came out tonight and just put in effort upon effort and held New South Wales out late in that game.
Queensland coach, Tahnee Norris
I think we had some really, really good moments and some, looked really good in patches, but it was only in patches, and we need to be more consistent. I honestly don’t think we could play as bad as we did tonight.
New South Wales coach, Kylie Hilde
Game 2 will be held at North Queensland Stadium in Townsville on Thursday, June 22 at 7:45pm AEST & Game 2 of the men’s edition is the day prior at 8:05pm AEST at Lang Park, Brisbane.
Sydney Spectaculars 
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