This was published 3 years ago
That’s all for our live blog from the Women’s Origin for tonight.
NSW thoroughly deserved their win, they were the better team on the night but the Maroons were gallant in defeat and if not for a couple of their outside backs being offside in the last few minutes at a crucial moment, they would have stolen victory in the closing stages.
This needs to be a three-game contest - make it happen, ARL Commission.
Blues captain Kezie Apps told Queensland to hold their heads high.
“You guys were tough and it went down to the wire.
“To my girls, I’m so proud of you all. I’m lost for words, I can’t believe we won that game. We dug deep.”
Maroons captain Ali Brigginshaw, as always a class act, congratulates the Blues on their win and pays tribute to her teammates.
“We put in everything we possibly could out there. I’m really proud of all of you.”
Blues centre Isabelle Kelly is a deserving winner of the Nellie Doherty Medal for player of the match.
“That was an awesome game.
“I’ve enjoyed this week so much.”
The quality of this match is yet more proof, not that it should be needed, that the Women’s Origin contest should be a three-game series.
Next year it’s supposed to be a two-match contest. Dumb idea.
It basically means Queensland will need to win both matches in 2022 to regain the shield.
The ARL Commission should need no further evidence that these NRLW players are now more than capable of producing three top-quality clashes.
NSW have hung on in a nail-biter to reclaim the Origin shield for the first time since 2019.
NSW centre Isabelle Kelly scores out wide after another skittling run by Johnston.
Kelly picks up a bouncing pass from Tonegato and ricochets away from two defenders.
Blues 20-14 entering the final minute ... sideline conversion kick sails wide
Brigginshaw puts up a bomb, Julia Robinson wins the race to it and passes for Shenae Ciesiolka to score a great try ...
... however she was a metre or two offside at the point of the kick.
Blues clinging onto 16-14 lead with 4 minutes left.
The bunker has ruled the ball was propelled forward.
No try, score stays Blues 16-14 with 8 minutes to go