G'day g'day g'day..
This is Mike Meehall Wood jumping on the live blog, ready to go for 2021 Women's Origin. Well, not quite ready, because they're still showing A Current Affair on 9. But once they go from chasing cowboy builders down the street to the footy, I'll let you know.
Up on the Sunshine Coast, it's, er, raining. But that hasn't stopped the action: the u-19s game is done and it's a great night already for NSW, with Teagan Berry crossing twice to deliver the Blues a 16-12 win.
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One of them was an absolute cracker, too.
It's worth saying how historic this evening is: not only are all the players female (obviously) but for the first time ever, so are both coaches and all the match officials.
We're having the national anthems and Welcome to Country. Kick off in 5.
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READ MORE:
MATCH REPORT: QLD Down NSW
HUGE SHOT: Kezie Apps' Monster Hit Sends Rival Flying
HISTORIC NIGHT: All-Female Refereeing Team For The First Time Ever
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It is absolutely throwing down on the Sunny Coast. Someone just sang the national anthem in an American accent. Plenty of the lasses were grimacing, I think against the wind and rain, but in spirit against the shocking rendition there.
Anyway, who cares: we're good to go!
Queensland to kick off.
TRY NSW! 0-4
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NSW started the stronger and could have scored early on through Isabelle Kelly. Queensland weren't as lucky the second time: they conceded a penalty on the last tackle and, a few plays later, Kelly goes over in the corner.
KICK WIDE
Queensland wake up immediately, booming a kick over Maddie Studdon and forcing a drop out. Moments later, the teenage debutant Destiny Brill tries to burrow in but is held up. Then Zahara Temara tries to pick out her winger, but misses and the Blues escape.
After weathering that Queensland storm, NSW go straight up the other end and probably should score: Hannah Southwell puts the kick in behind, the winger fumbles it and Penitani is there first - but she can't control the ball and knocks on.
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NSW are making huge ground on every set here. Their running power at the moment is far too much for Queensland. Jess Sergis and Isabelle Kelly, in particular, are running riot.
My colleague Max Sherry is all over this game too: Have a read here!
Shot! Kezie Apps, what a tackle! The Blues forward lines up a Maroon and lays. her. out.
TRY QLD 4-4
Destiny Brill, the teenage debutant, had a try took off earlier but she'll not be denied now! She gets herself low, attacks the line and over she goes!
GOAL QLD 6-4
Off the sideline, but no bother at all for Lauren Brown - she pings it over to give the Maroons the lead.
Bombed! This is such a superb move and it deserved a try. NSW kick down the left, with Yasmin Meakes rising highest to claim. She keeps it alive to Kelly, then inside to Vette-Welsh, then over to Quincy Dodd who kicks over the top...Jess Sergis is racing onto it but can't claim. She should have scored.
HALF TIME QLD 6 - 4 NSW
Tight as anything here - defences have been superb and handling very difficult in these conditions. NSW started better, Queensland have come back into it and we go to the sheds with two points the difference.
That hit from Kezie Apps...wow. So good that my colleague Max has written a whole article about it. Enjoy.
Back underway...
The arm wrestle is well and truly back underway. Attritional stuff at the moment.
Big break from Kelly, who gets it on to Cherrington. She's held 10 out, and with QLD stretched on the right...NSW go to the left. The Maroons survive.
NSW are back to bossing the game up the guts, but unable to capitalise...Millie Boyle really leading from the front.
The Blues have come out strong and finally got a 5th tackle play right, trapping Tamika Upton a yard out. And it pays off, with Hannah Southwell landing a superb shot to dislodge the ball. Millie Boyle charges in, holds off the tacklers, swing towards the line and...drops it. Huge missed opportunity.
Stink! Kennedy Cherrington forces an error and rubs it right in the face of her opponent - she doesn't like that at all. We all crowd in.
Moments later, there's a high shot under the sticks and the Blues will take the two.
GOAL! QLD 6 - 6 NSW
Maddie Studdon kicks it easily and we're level.
Tiana Penitani is going off with a limp. Bad news for the Blues with less than 15 left...
Huge pressure from QLD, but the Blues stand firm and Zahara Temara sends the grubber dead.
Queensland get a penalty and there's a big push and shove between Holli Wheeler and Shenae Ciesiolka. It's a penalty for the Maroons, absolutely on the edge of kickable...they run it and...
TRY QLD!
Tamika Upton has been very quiet tonight, but she's exploded here!
It's a greatest hits of Queensland Women's RL: Ali Brigginshaw, to Tarryn Aiken, to Tamika Upton, to the tryline.
NO TRY!
The Bunker intervenes - there's an obstruction. Faintly ridiculous one at that, but thems the rules.
Lenaduzzi with the strip! And then Southwell with a huuuuuuge hit! Can't take your eyes off this!
Five to play, Queensland in the NSW half. This has to be FG territory, and the 9 commentary tells us there's never been one in Women's Origin.
Brigginshaw doesn't go for 1, but instead rolls a low kick in that Vette-Brown shovels behind. Massive set incoming for QLD now.
PENALTY QLD - under the sticks too!
The ref has broken this one open - after taking a try off Queensland (correctly, if you ask me), she's given a penalty for interference at the play the ball, right under the posts.
GOAL QLD - Lauren Brown kicks it!
FULL TIME QLD 8 - 6 NSW
It's all over! Queensland snatch it at the death. New South Wales will probably be annoyed that they didn't take their chances, but Origin is a tough arena and Queensland are masters at this kind of thing.
It goes without saying, but that was a superb game of footy. The intensity was out of this world, played in horrendous conditions. Defences were well on top, proper old school rugby league. I loved it.
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Topics: score, Rugby League, nrl, Australia
