In front of a record women’s Origin crowd of 25,782 fans, the Queensland Maroons have forced a decider in the three-match series, with an odds-defying 11-10 victory over the NSW Sky Blues.
Despite torrential rain in a sold out McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Thursday night, the Maroons kept the series alive after trailing by six points with 10 minutes to play.
Opening the match, it was Sky Blues centre Jess Sergis’ run that provided field position for the game’s opening try.
Entering off the bench just three minutes earlier, Sky Blues’ Keeley Davis jumped into dummy half and ran over a four-pointer which Rachael Pearson converted for a 6-0 lead.
After going to the break with NSW leading, the sides traded tries in a seven-minute burst where the Maroons drew level with seven minutes left. Then, a dropped ball from Sky Blues prop Caitlan Johnson gave Queensland the field position with three minutes left.
Finally, Maroon hooker Lauren Brown sealed the win by booting a composed field goal with only two minutes left to play.
“When it’s wet, you tighten up a little bit, pass the ball a couple extra steps before the line and don’t push anything silly, just try completing your sets, kick it to a corner and just work your way down the field that way,” Brown said about the historic match.
“I looked at the clock and I thought we probably won’t get another set of six down here so if I’ve got to pull the trigger, it’s got to be this set.”
“To be honest, I’m surprised it bounced because the field was so wet and soggy. I can’t believe it, I think I’m still dreaming.”
Match Snapshot
Maroons prop Shannon Mato was placed on report in the 11th minute of the match for a hair pull on Sky Blue’s Yasmin Clydsdale. And Maroons skipper got put on report in the 14th minute for a trip.
Sky Blues centre Jess Sergis left the field in the 33rd minute for a HIA which she passed.
Looking at statistics, Sky Blues centre Isabelle Kelly ran an impressive 173 metres by full-time. NSW’s Clydsdale and Olivia Kernick also racked up 73 tackles between them.
The defending champions will now return home to Queesnsland for a decider at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium on June 27 with a chance to clinch back-to-back series wins.