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Sam Kosack • May 16th, 2025 12:05 am
The New South Wales Blues have won the Women’s State of Origin for the first time since the series extended beyond one game, defeating Queensland 26-6 in wet and wild conditions.
In front of 16,000 fans, the Blues Women overcame an early Maroon wave to seize the series and win in NSW for the first time in six years.
Young Blues halfback Jesse Southwell controlled the game with poise in what was hailed as her "best game" in her young career.
Despite being only 20-years-old, the now Origin series and premiership winner has demonstrated wisdom beyond her years.
Former Blues halfback and SEN League expert Brett Kimmorley says this is only the start of Southwell’s rise.
“I think that’s first class what she did today with the premierships and grand finals she’s played in,” Kimmorley said.
“Today she was a reason there was a part of victory for New South Wales.
“It’s the best performance I’ve seen of her when I’ve watched her play.”
Contrastingly, Queensland are now left searching for answers, particularly around the future of champion halfback Ali Brigginshaw, who struggled to leave an impression on the contest.
Brigginshaw has played every State of Origin series since 2016 for Queensland, but has struggled in the 2025 series to steer the team around and create opportunities.
“(I’ve) been here a long time, you never know when it’s going to be your last,” a visibly upset Brigginshaw conceded post-game.
“We train and we sacrifice so much being away from family… every game you play, winning’s great, losing hurts.
“If I didn’t have any emotions then I wouldn’t be here.”
Kimmorley believes tough decisions must now be made around the future of the Maroons legend as the series moves into its first ever dead rubber in Newcastle.
“I would say she's had no impact on the game so far,” Kimmorley said at half-time.
“That's disappointing because that's the person who was identified by the coach as who’s going to lead this side.
“If Ali Brigginshaw doesn’t come to Game III, then Lauren Brown becomes the half.”
Meanwhile, Blues lock forward Olivia Kernick was another standout for the Blues, running for a monumental 236 metres, scoring two tries, and putting on a line break and try assist in a performance that cannot be understated.
Blues centre Jess Sergis failed to return from half-time with a neck injury, while Maroons fullback Tamika Upton suffered a hamstring injury trying to stop Jamie Chapman’s try.
In the heart of enemy territory, Queensland needed to start fast, and they did so in controversial fashion during the sixth minute.
In the torrential conditions, a small grubber from Lauren Brown caused havoc for Olivia Kernick in the in-goal, the reigning Dally M medallist knocking it on in goal.
Sent up to the bunker as a no-try, both teams assumed Kernick had grounded the ball and set up for a drop out. The try alert on the big screen had Queenslanders running in 40 metres to Tamika Upton, who was ruled to have grounded the ball after Kernick failed to do so.
However, from that point on, Queensland’s pressure and control faded as the rain did.
AThe NSW forwards began to win the field position battle, bumping away from tackles and marching down field at will.
A rampaging Simaima Taufa burst through a gaping hole in the 16th minute to even the scoreline before Olivia Kernick sliced through like a hot knife through butter, going to halftime 12-6 up.
The heaving rain was so bad during the first half, Allianz Stadium ground staff had to re-paint the lines at half-time, but the dreary conditions did little to dampen New South Wales’s party.
An early try to Jayme Fressard in the corner and another to Jamie Chapman on the opposite wing proved the decisive 10 minutes for the Blues, seeing the shield returned to New South Wales for just the second time this decade.
Olivia Kernick capped off a dominant performance and overall series with a try seven minutes from the end, ensuring the shield returned to New South Wales.
