In an historic first, the Women’s State of Origin match played on Friday night will be officiated by an all-female team, while both teams will be coached by women for the first time.
The game will mark the first time there won’t be a man on the field as Queensland and New South Wales meet.
Belinda Sharpe has been appointed to referee the match, and Karra-Lee Nolan and Kailey Beattie will take to the field as touch judges. It’s the first time an on-field officiating team has been entirely made up by women in any Origin match.
In 2019, Belinda Sharpe became the first woman to referee a men’s NRL game, and has been a touch judge in the NRL since 2014. Since Sharpe’s rise to the top, there has been an increase in the number of female referees being developed.
It’s also the first time two women have coached State of Origin, with Kylie Hilder at New South Wales and Tahnee Norris at Queensland.
Just a few things about the game. Both the @NSWRL @NSWBlues and @QLDmaroons are being coached by women in @HilderKylie and Tahnee Norris. This is a first!
— LadiesWhoLeague (@LadiesWhoLeague) June 24, 2021
Last year, Queensland took home the State of Origin title, having defeated New South Wales 24-18. It was a rare loss for New South Wales, who won the first two women’s Origins in 2018 and 2019.
This year, the game will be played at the Sunshine Coast Stadium, a home advantage for Queensland who are looking to go back-to-back. The game will be broadcast live on Chanel Nine, with coverage kicking off at 7.30pm.