Summary
Thank you for joining me this evening to put a full stop on a dominant series for NSW. Stay tuned for more reaction from the Gold Coast, and be sure to return here as the men’s series heats up in Melbourne.
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NSW win the 2026 women's State of Origin
Try-scorer and NSW skipper Isabelle Kelly takes to the dais to thank sponsors, congratulate her teammates, and praise coach John Strange. She’s then joined by her teammates and raises the State of Origin shield over her head as sky blue confetti rains down onto CBUS Stadium.
Yasmin Meakes awarded the Katrina Fanning medal
The Blues forward is rewarded for her strong form with the player of the series award.
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The Blues are celebrating on the field with their kids, ex-teammates now commentators, and throughout anyone and everyone presented with a microphone is a flawless speaker with outstanding communication skills.
Queensland’s line defence in the first half demonstrated great resilience, but when they were forced to chase the game later on there was an absence of quality when it counted. Destiny Mino-Sinapati impressed on debut, highlighting the bright future for this young Maroons squad.
The second half was even, but the first was lopsided as the Blues played with control and confidence, dominating the middle and striking out wide. It was a deserved victory. Kelleher and Southwell ran the show, Kernick and Johnston delivered relentless go-forward, and all the outside backs contributed decisively in both defence and attack.
Full-time: Queensland 4-12 NSW
The Blues complete the first clean sweep in women’s State of Origin history with their most comprehensive victory of a dominant campaign.
69 mins: Queensland must only have two sets left to rescue something, but they make little ground with the first, relying again on Kiria-Ratu’s boot to pose any kind of threat, but NSW are equal to it. Professionally, they run a safe set downfield, then Southwell kicks hito the left corner.
68 mins: Manzelmann infringes at the ruck allowing NSW an armchair ride out of defence. From there Sergis makes a clean linebreak but fails to find Berry on her outside with the late try assist.
66 mins: Another 30m drop-out return sets up A1 field position but the Maroons make an almighty mess of this one. There’s no connection in the backline with the first attempt to cut to the left and Chapman does magnificently to take player and ball and send Queensland 20m backwards. Then there’s a gang tackle close to the left touchline that dislodges possession and the Blues are quickly around, slapping backs and sharing high fives. That was a huge moment in this contest.
64 mins: The drop-out is returned 30m out, allowing Elliston then Teitzel drives inside the red zone. Manzelmann is scheming, Kiria-Ratu dabs a kick through and Fressard this time is forced to concede the line drop-out. Queensland are giving their all late on here.
62 mins: Apps is pinged for a sloppy play-the-ball on her own 40m line and you think Queensland have to strike. Mino-Sinapati darts off the set-play. Brown is busy. Manzelmann makes herself known. 5m out on the last and Manzelmann tries to recover her own grubber but Chapman is across swiftly from her wing to concede the line drop-out.
60 mins: There’s a brief stoppage while Mino-Sinapati receives some treatment for a rolled ankle, which in real time looked like it could have been something much worse.
59 mins: Both teams resume the exchange of sets either side of halfway, Queensland forced to grind to retain territorial parity, helped by Kiria-Ratu’s superb boot.
57 mins: Queensland build strongly up the guts, taking three tackles to reach the posts and create space out wide. On tackle four the Maroons move – but Brown gets her timing wrong and attempts the pass before she’s secured possession and heads drop collectively as a golden opportunity goes begging.
55 mins: Brown’s restart kick is a wobbly mongrel and Kelleher knocks it on. Can the Maroons capitalise?
CONVERTED TRY! Queensland 4-12 NSW (Fressard, 53)
NSW have grown into this half and now look to capitalise on field position. Southwell and Kelleher dovetail well, then Church enters the line at pace and skips through the line. Queensland recover and force the Blues back infield but on the last Southwell redirects traffic ot the left. The Maroons look to have it covered, but from a standing start Fressard comes in off her wing, finds an angle and the seas part in front of her as she carves her way to the line!
Southwell adds the extras from just to the left of the uprights and NSW are in full control.
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51 mins: Kernick leads a strong restart set that ends with another towering Kelleher bomb. There’s nearly another collision but this time Mino-Sinapati is first to the ball – doesn’t gather cleanly – but is fortunate to see the ball bobble backwards to Peters. She is then immediately set upon and dragged 10m backwards! The Blues are at it again from the next play-the-ball, but they go too far after contact and concede the penalty. Not that it matters for long with the fatiguing Maroons spilling on contact inside their own half coming out of defence.
PENALTY! Queensland 4-6 NSW (Southwell, 49)
Southwell completes the formalities and the Blues retake the lead. That was Peters’ ball all day long, but despite the winger sitting under the drop zone, the debutant came flying in from stage left and was fortunate not to injure herself or her teammate.
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48 mins: Joseph concedes a penalty for contact after the tackle and the Blues can build for the first time this half. The forwards build a solid platform through the middle but when they go wide Kelly is smothered on the left and Chapman has no room on the right. Kelleher bombs dangerously on the last and it’s a horror show in the Queensland defence with Mino-Sinapati and Peters colliding as both try to mark near the goal line. Not only does the ball spill forward, there’s an accidental offside in the process. the Blues will have a shot for goal from point-blank range.
46 mins: That passage of efficient footy ends with the Blues coughing up possession on their 40m line. Queensland go for the strike immediately, Kiria-Ratu sending the ball out wide to the right but Peters finds Kelly, Church, and Fressard ready and waiting to execute a ferocious gang tackle, taking player and ball into touch with serious hustle.
44 mins: It’s a real midfield arm wrestle at the moment with both teams happy to go one-out and play the percentages. That is except for Mino-Sinapati who marks another bomb and tries to dart around the outside on the right, eventually doing well to remain in play as she’s tackled near the whitewash.
42 mins: Both sides exchange sets either side of halfway to steady proceedings. Queensland’s off the back of Mino-Sinapati marking a treacherous bomb and continuing her impressive debut.
40 mins: Kiria-Ratu sets Queensland in motion with a snipe and an offload. Brown is lively and some momentum starts to build. Mino-Sinapati is involved on the left. But when the ball comes back infield Brown fails to execute and the chance evaporates.
39 mins: NSW’s poor start to the half continues with Kelleher missing a routine target and the ball ricocheting off Church’s arm and onto the deck. The Blues challenge, arguing the ball had landed backwards, but the bunker disagreed.
38 mins: Johnston lays a massive tackle to deny Queensland any momentum but Ferguson and Clark are busy, taking their side inside the 20m. Pule keeps the drive alive but on the last there’s a miscommunication under the posts and the ball goes to ground before it’s scooped up by a blue jersey.
37 mins: And that good fortune continues with a ruck penalty against Cherrington allowing the Maroons to kick to the 40m line and mount a concerted attack.
36 mins: Cherrington with the first hit-up of the half, backed up by Kernick and Johnston as the Blues make it safely to halfway – but Southwell kicks out on the full, dragging the ball across her body and the Maroons have an early bonus.
The teams are back out for the final 35 minutes of women’s Origin footy for 2026.
NSW lead on the stats sheet by over 200 run metres, 100 more post-contact metres, and an average set distance of 40 to 28 metres, but that dominance has not converted into points thanks to some resolute Queensland line defence.
Half-time: Queensland 4-4 NSW
NSW absolutely dominated that half yet somehow the scores are level at the break.
34 mins: Queensland get a penalty coming out of defence which allows Clark, then Brown, to punch holes in the NSW defence. On the last the Maroons are inside the 10m zone but the organisation is all wrong and the ball is in Yarrow’s hands. She tries – and fails – to execute a grubber, and the Blues escape.
TRY! Queensland 4-4 NSW (Peters, 32)
Out of nothing Queensland are level! From the failed intercept on the left, the Maroons go through hands to the right. It’s slick backline combination catch and pass with Mino-Sinapati and Lolesio prominent, allowing Peters enough room on the outside to dive over in the corner! Sport, eh?
The conversion attempt is never online.
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30 mins: NSW execute a solid restart set, one containing some bonus metres for Chapman who crumbs the kick on the last after Ciesiolka unwisely allows it to bounce. The hosts grind to halfway without any penetration but Kiria-Ratu’s bomb is allowed to bounce and in the chaos that follows the halfback is first to the contest and in broken field charges towards the 20m line. A tackle later Chapman is perfectly placed to intercept a Harbour Bridge pass and run the length of the field to score, but she can’t hold onto the ball and the Maroons escape. Not only that…
28 mins: The 4-0 lead is the minimum NSW deserve for an emphatically one-sided start to this contest.
TRY! Queensland 0-4 NSW (Kelly, 26)
Finally the Blues score! From the Teitzel error NSW go straight on to the attack, drawing bodies into the contest through the corridor then finding a quick play-the-ball, going through hands to the left, and it’s Kelly who has the simple task of completing the two player overlap.
Southwell can’t add the extras 10m in from the left touchline.
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24 mins: Queensland concede a ruck penalty as the Blues rumble out of defence, and a high tackle on Southwell makes it two infractions in quick succession. The NSW tsunami gathers steam once more. The Maroons need a major intervention and Kiria-Ratu comes out of the line to land an enormous hit on the drifting Kelleher to get the crowd excited. The Blues cough up possession before they can work through any combinations, but Queensland hand possession straight back with Teitzel failing to offload successfully with three defenders for company.
22 mins: Queensland grind to halfway before Kiria-Ratu kicks. It was an attack that contained promise until Kelleher flattened Brown just as the Maroons threatened to expand down the left.
20 mins: NSW have all the run again and they test the Queensland defence through the middle, waiting for Southwell to decide which wing she’s going to direct traffic towards when the space opens up. She goes to the left, the Blues are slick through hands, and there’s just enough room for Fressard to cross in the corner under pressure from Peters! But replays show the grounding wasn’t the neatest and Sharpe is soon in dialogue with the bunker who waste little time identifying a loose carry and knock-on. Queensland survive, courtesy of some superb line defence.
18 mins: Kernick and Meakes are busy, conducted by Southwell, and the latter kicks dangerously on the last out wide to Chapman but the Blues winger can’t hold on in the aerial duel with Ciesiolka. The Queenslander was adjudged to have knocked-on in that battle so the Blues come again.
16 mins: The hosts finally have a foothold in this contest and are happy to trade conservative sets either side of halfway. There’s some consternation that Kiria-Ratu isn’t awarded a penalty for forecfol contact after her kick on the last, and that sense of indignation is reinforced when Joseph and Clark are then penalised for a crusher tackle.
14 mins: Queensland are awarded a penalty that finally allows them to clear their lines, but as they ease into enemy territory Kelly absolutely flattens Brown coming out of the line. The Maroons get a kick away that is allowed to bounce and cause some panic in the defensive line but after a brief scare order is restored.
12 mins: Queensland cannot stop shooting themselves in the foot. A solid drive ends with Kiria-Ratu kicking long – too long – and the Blues will get another clear run at the Maroons. Johnston requires three defenders to stop her in her tracks, creating space inside her for Kelleher to grubber but Queensland have cover to knock the ball dead. The drop-out is reclaimed by Chapman and the Blues are back on the hunt for the opening try down the right. There’s danger infield from Apps, then on the last Chapman has space to dart down the outside on the right but Brown is across to cover and holds up the NSW winger on her back over the try line! NSW are knocking loudly on the door.
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10 mins: It’s one-way traffic early but the Blues have yet to make it count. Off the back of a 20m scrum they dart to the right without any luck, then they cut left through Kernick, who tries to wrestle and spin her way over but in the process loses control of the ball and the Maroons can release the pressure.
8 mins: Destiny Mino-Sinapati does well under another high ball, this time from Kelleher, after NSW ate up the CBUS Super turf before lacking inspiration in the red zone. They’re gifted another golden opportunity though when Apps flattens Peters and dislodges the footy.
6 mins: Southwell shows and goes into the 20m zone. Higgins, Sergis, and Kelleher are all busy as the Blues inch towards the line, inviting Church and Apps to crash over, but Queensland are resolute in defence and keep NSW out as they run it on the last tackle. Queensland get nowhere coming out of defence though with Kiria-Ratu kicking on tackle four again to try and turn the visitors around.
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4 mins: Queensland execute a settling drive and kick high to Fressard who watches the ball closely into her arms in the testing conditions. The Blues continue to assert themselves territorially and Southwell kicks to the left corner to keep the Maroons pinned. And that pressure tells when Joseph takes her eye off the ball accepting a routine pass on her 30m line to gift NSW an attacking platform.
2 mins: Brill takes the night’s first hit-up but she’s met firmly by the NSW defence who continue their strong work and induce the Maroons to kick on tackle four. By the third tackle the Blues are over halfway and going through hands to the left before a pass goes to ground and they have to reset through the middle with Meakes and then Apps. A bomb goes up on the last but Destiny Mino-Sinapati is confident beneath it with her first test.
Kick-off!
The women’s State of Origin finale is under way…
A much more traditional rendition of the national anthem than we heard last night precedes both teams crouching into tight huddles for the final rev ups.
The crowd looks to be the most modest of the series so far, unsurprising considering the weather and the absence of competitive jeopardy.
Out jog the visitors in their sky and navy blue uniforms, led by the impressive Isabelle Kelly. And they’re soon joined by the Maroons with the host broadcaster soon training their attention on debutant fullback Destiny Mino-Sinapati.
Conditions are not ideal, with southern Queensland seeing plenty of wind and rain today, and thunderstorms a possibility throughout the night.
Belinda Sharpe will referee her eighth Origin fixture in a row. She must be praying she avoids the drama that befell her male counterpart Ashley Klein last night in Sydney.
Please send me your emails and keep me company throughout the evening. The address is jonathan.howcroft.casual@guardian.co.uk.
NSW XIII
The Blues have the luxury of naming an unchanged team. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
1. Abbi Church, 2. Jaime Chapman, 3. Jessica Sergis, 4. Isabelle Kelly ©, 5. Jayme Fressard, 6. Jocelyn Kelleher, 7. Jesse Southwell, 8. Millie Elliott, 9. Olivia Higgins, 10. Ellie Johnston, 11. Kezie Apps, 12. Yasmin Meakes, 13. Olivia Kernick
Interchange: 14. Keeley Nizza, 15. Kennedy Cherrington, 16. Rima Butler, 17. Teagan Berry
Queensland XIII
The Maroons have been rocked by injuries to IRL Golden Boot holder Julia Robinson, living legend Tamika Upton, and starting forward Makenzie Weale. Destiny Mino-Sinapati will debut at fullback with Lillian Yarrow coming onto the interchange.
1. Destiny Mino-Sinapati, 2. Shenae Ciesiolka, 3. Rory Owen, 4. Ivana Lolesio, 5. Jasmine Peters, 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu, 7. Lauren Brown, 8. Otesa Pule, 9. Destiny Brill, 10. Jessika Elliston, 11. Sienna Lofipo, 12. Romy Teitzel, 13. Keilee Joseph
Interchange: 14. Emma Manzelmann, 15. Brianna Clark, 16. Lillian Yarrow. 17. Jada Ferguson.
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Women’s State of Origin Game 3. Kick-off between Queensland and New South Wales at Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium is scheduled for 7.45pm AEST.
There is only state pride at stake this evening as the Blues arrive with an unassailable 2-0 series lead following narrow victories in Newcastle and Brisbane. But before NSW receive the Origin shield in enemy territory Queensland will be desperate to avoid being the first team to be handed a bagel in the short history of the multi-game women’s Origin format.
“No one wants to be part of a clean sweep,” asserted Queensland coach Nathan Cross earlier this week, “and if I look at the first two games – and I’ve said it on record – game one, we missed a chance, but with 30 seconds to go, we were still a fighting chance, down by a point. Game two, 30 seconds to go, we nearly score in the corner and snatch it late. So, history will show we’re down 2-0, but it’s a struck match between both teams in both games, and we feel like we let ourselves down in game two. I feel like we beat ourselves.”
The unchanged Blues will be tough to beat however, with the Maroons looking to the incoming Destiny Mino-Sinapati to provide some spark from fullback. The debutant has the daunting task of replacing injured superstar Tamika Upton.
