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Women's State of Origin

Women's State of Origin

Current season or competition: 2024 State of Origin series
Sport	Rugby league
Instituted	2018
Inaugural season	1999
Number of teams	2
Country	Australia (ARLC)
Shield Holders	New South Wales (2022)
Website	NRL website
Broadcast partner	Nine Network Fox Sports
Related competitions	NRL Women's Premiership NSWRL Women's Premiership QRL Women's Premiership

The Women's State of Origin is an annual rugby league fixture between two Australian state representative women's sides, the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons.^[1]

First played in 1999 as the Women's Interstate Challenge, the game was rebranded as State of Origin for the 2018 season.^[2][3] Queensland won the first game in 1999 and were unbeaten for 17 years until New South Wales won for the first time in 2016.^[4][5]

History[edit]

Women's Interstate Challenge (1999–2017)[edit]

Despite women's rugby league first being played in Australia in 1921, the first official game between Queensland and New South Wales was not held until 1999. The two teams met at Brisbane's ANZ Stadium with Queensland winning 16–6.^[6]

Accurate records were not kept in the early years of the Interstate Challenge by either the QRL or the NSWRL, with many player records and game information still unknown.^[7] For many years, the women's teams were run by their own governing bodies, the Queensland Women's Rugby League and the New South Wales Women's rugby league, who were affiliated with the QRL and NSWRL.^[8][9]

Before coming under the State of Origin banner in 2018, the sides were not known as the 'Blues' and 'Maroons', with the Queensland side being known as the 'Brolgas'.^[10] In 2005, the teams began playing for the Nellie Doherty Cup. Nellie Doherty was a pioneer of the women's game in Australia, helping to launch the sport in 1921.^[11]

Although the majority of early Women's Interstate Challenges were one-off fixtures, the sides would occasionally play a series of games, such as in 2004 and 2008.^[12]

In 2015, Queensland failed to defeat New South Wales for the first time, with the sides drawing 4–all at Townsville's 1300SMILES Stadium and Queensland retaining the Nellie Doherty Cup.^[13] On 23 July 2016, New South Wales defeated Queensland for the first time, ending Queensland's 17-year undefeated streak, with an 8–4 victory at the Gold Coast's Cbus Super Stadium.^[14] On 23 July 2017, in the final game played under the Women's Interstate Challenge name, New South Wales defeated Queensland for the second time, winning 22–6 at WIN StadiuminWollongong.^[15]

State of Origin (2018–present)[edit]

On 6 December 2017, the National Rugby League announced that the Women's Interstate Challenge would be rebranded as the Women's State of Origin.^[16] The game which, was previously played as a curtain-raiser, would now be a standalone fixture broadcast on the Nine Network and Fox Sports. With the game under the State of Origin banner, the Nellie Doherty Cup was replaced by a shield, with the player of the match now receiving the Nellie Doherty Medal.^[17]

On 22 June 2018, New South Wales won the first Women's State of Origin game, defeating Queensland 16–10 at North Sydney Oval.^[18] Blues' centre Isabelle Kelly, who scored two tries in the win, won the inaugural Nellie Doherty Medal.^[19] On 21 June 2019, New South Wales defeated Queensland for the fourth consecutive year, winning 14–4 at North Sydney Oval, with Blues halfback Maddie Studdon being awarded the Nellie Doherty Medal.^[20]

The 2020 game was originally due to be played in June at Sunshine Coast Stadium, but was moved to the post-season for the first time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The game was played in Queensland for the first time under the State of Origin banner and for the first time overall since 2016.^[21][22] Queensland defeated New South Wales 24–18, winning their first official State of Origin game and their first game since 2014.^[23]

The 2021 match is historically notable for being the first Women's State of Origin fixture where the players, coaches and on-field officials were all women.^[24]

Broadcasting[edit]

Within Australia, the game is simulcast on the Nine Network and Fox Sports.^[25]

In 2013 and 2014, the game was livestreamed.^[26] In 2015 and 2016, the game aired on Fox Sports as a replay the day after the game.^[27] In 2017, the game aired live on Fox Sports for the first time.^[28]

Selection rules[edit]

Sydney

Brisbane

Prior to 2019, the Queensland and New South Wales teams were largely selected under residency rules, meaning a number of players represented both states.^[7] For example, Tahnee Norris (who captained Queensland) and Natalie Dwyer, both represented New South Wales before moving to Queensland. Innisfail's Tarah Westera represented Queensland before moving to Penrith, where she represented New South Wales, later returning to and playing for Queensland.^[29]

In 2019, the eligibility rules were revised to be more inline with the men's State of Origin rules.^[30] The residency rule was removed, which saw New Zealand representatives Maitua Feterika (Queensland) and Nita Maynard (New South Wales) ruled ineligible.^[31] Queensland lock Rona Peters, who had previously represented New Zealand, was also originally ruled ineligible. This was later overturned and she was given special dispensation, as she had retired from international rugby league in 2015, before she first represented Queensland in 2016.^[32]

Nellie Doherty Medal[edit]

The Nellie Doherty Medal is awarded to the player of the match. The medal was first awarded in 2018 to New South Wales' centre Isabelle Kelly after the first official Women's State of Origin game^[33] and Kelly became the first player to win the award twice winning it again in 2022^[34]

Recipients

Year	Player	State	Position	Club	Ref.
2018	Isabelle Kelly	New South Wales	Centre	CRL Newcastle	[33]
2019	Maddie Studdon	New South Wales	Halfback	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Women
2020	Tarryn Aiken	Queensland	Five-eighth	Brisbane Broncos
2021	Tazmin Gray	Queensland	Second-row	Burleigh Bears
2022	Isabelle Kelly	New South Wales	Centre	Sydney Roosters	[34]
2023	Tazmin Gray	Queensland	Second-row	Brisbane Broncos	[35]

Results[edit]

Accurate records were not kept in early years of the Women's Interstate Challenge by either the QRL or the NSWRL. In 2004, 2008 and 2023 two games were played instead of a one-off fixture.^[7]

Match Details[edit]

2006[edit]

Queensland	40 – 24	New South Wales
Tries Steph Hancock 2 Leah Williams 2 Teresa Anderson 1 Karyn Murphy 1 Megan Spicer 1 Goals Neena Fraser 4 Steph Hancock 1 Megan Spicer 1	Report	Tries 1 Teina Clark 1 Dahlia Tahu 1 Nadine Schmidt 1 Johnnie Tukwaho Goals 4 Teina Clark

2007[edit]

New South Wales	16 – 38	Queensland
	Report	Tries 2 Rachele Whelan 1 Bianca Ambrum 1 Teresa Anderson 1 Kellie Batchelor 1 Suzanne Johnson 1 Leah Williams Goals 5 Kellie Batchelor

2008[edit]

Game 1

New South Wales	6 – 8	Queensland
Tries Jessica Palmer 1 Goals Teina Clark 1	Report	Tries 1 Steph Hancock 1 Tegan Rolfe

Game 2

Queensland	46 – 4	New South Wales
Tries Bianca Ambrum 3 Suzanne Johnson 2 Tarah Westera 2 Tegan Rolfe 1 Renae Kunst 1 Steph Hancock 1 Goals Steph Hancock 3	Report Scores[36]	Tries 1 Lisa Fiaola

2009[edit]

New South Wales	14 – 20	Queensland
Tries Poihaera Clark 1 Natalie Levy 1 Jessica Palmer 1 Goals Renee Gloss 1	Report	Tries 1 Erin Elliott 1 Tahnee Norris 1 Nive Moefaauo 1 Tarah Westera Goals 1 Natalie Dwyer 1 Tegan Rolfe

2010[edit]

Queensland	36 – 6	New South Wales
Tries Latisha Gary 2 Tegan Rolfe 2 Karina Brown 1 Natalie Dwyer 1 Suzanne Johnson 1 Goals Natalie Dwyer 4	Report	Tries 1 Kylie Hilder Goals 1 Teina Clark

2011[edit]

Queensland	26 – 0	New South Wales
Tries Bianca Ambrum 1 Natasha Baggow 1 Natalie Dwyer 1 Natalie Gala 1 Steph Hancock 1 Karyn Murphy 1 Goals Natalie Dwyer 1	1st: 14–0 2nd: 12–0 Report

2012[edit]

New South Wales	10 – 34	Queensland
Tries Sam Bremner 1 Tarah Westera 1 Goals Maddie Studdon 1	1st: 10–16 2nd: 0–18 Report	Tries 4 Bianca Ambrum 2 Natalie Dwyer 1 Karina Brown 1 Karyn Murphy Goals 1 Amber Saltner

2013[edit]

Queensland	30 – 12	New South Wales
Tries Bianca Ambrum 1 Jo Barrett 1 Steph Hancock 1 Renae Kunst 1 Tahnee Norris 1 Amber Saltner 1 Goals Amber Saltner 3	1st: 10–6 2nd: 20–6 Report	Tries 2 Tegan Chandler Goals 2 Margaret Watson

2014[edit]

New South Wales	10 – 26	Queensland
Tries Kezie Apps 1 Teina Clark 1 Goals Maddie Studdon 3	1st: 0–16 2nd: 10–10 Report	Tries 1 Steph Hancock 1 Kellye Hodges 1 Jenni-Sue Hoepper 1 Renae Kunst 1 Deanna Turner Goals 2 Ali Brigginshaw 1 Jenni-Sue Hoepper

2015[edit]

Queensland	4 – 4	New South Wales
Tries Chelsea Baker 1	1st: 4–0 2nd: 0–4 Report	Tries 1 Isabelle Kelly

2016[edit]

Queensland	4 – 8	New South Wales
Tries: 1 Ali Brigginshaw (79') 1 Goals: nil Chelsea Baker 0/1	1st: 0–0 2nd: 4–8 Match Stats (NRL) Report	Tries: 1 1 (52') Simaima Taufa Goals: 2 2/2 Maddie Studdon (54', 76' pen)

2017[edit]

New South Wales	22 – 6	Queensland
Tries: 5 Jessica Sergis (6', 11', 61') 3 Corban McGregor (51') 1 Vanessa Foliaki (55') 1 Goals: 1 Caitlin Moran 1/5 (12')	1st: 10–6 2nd: 12–0 Match Stats (NRL) Report	Tries: 1 1 (21') Jenni-Sue Hoepper Goals: 1 1/1 Chelsea Baker (23')

2018[edit]

New South Wales	16 – 10	Queensland
Tries: 3 Isabelle Kelly (7', 54') 2 Nakia Davis-Welsh (36') 1 Goals: 2 Maddie Studdon 2/3 (9', 55')	1st: 6–6 2nd: 10–4 Highlights Match Stats (NRL) Report	Tries: 2 2 (12', 45') Karina Brown Goals: 1 1/2 Chelsea Baker (13')

2019[edit]

New South Wales	14 – 4	Queensland
Tries: 3 Jessica Sergis (38') 1 Shakiah Tungai (44') 1 Maddie Studdon (50') 1 Goals: 1 Kirra Dibb 1/2 (51') Maddie Studdon 0/1	1st: 0–4 2nd: 14–0 Highlights Match Stats (NRL) Report	Tries: 1 1 (24') Tazmin Gray Goals: nil 0/1 Meg Ward

2020[edit]

Queensland Women	24 – 18	New South Wales Women
Tries: 4 Tamika Upton (14', 43') 2 Tarryn Aiken (51') 1 Steph Hancock (57') 1 Goals: 4 Lauren Brown 4/4 (15', 44', 52', 58')	1st: 6–6 2nd: 18–12 Highlights Match Stats (NRL) Report	Tries: 4 1 (24') Kezie Apps 1 (59') Tiana Penitani 1 (57') Filomina Hanisi 1 (69') Botille Vette-Welsh Goals: 1 1/1 Melanie Howard (26') 0/1 Hannah Southwell 0/2 Quincy Dodd

2021[edit]

Queensland Women	8 – 6	New South Wales Women
Tries: 1 Destiny Brill (26') 1 Goals: 2 Lauren Brown 2/2 (24', 69' pen)	1st: 6–4 2nd: 2–2 Highlights Match Stats (NRL) Report	Tries: 1 1 (4') Isabelle Kelly Goals: 1 1/1 Maddie Studdon (52') 0/1 Hannah Southwell

2022[edit]

New South Wales	20 – 14	Queensland
Tries: 3 Emma Tonegato (13') 1 Kirra Dibb (15') 1 Isabelle Kelly (67') 1 Goals: 4 Rachael Pearson 4/5 (14', 17', 27' pen, 41' pen)	1st: 14–10 2nd: 6–4 Highlights Match Stats (NRL) Reports[39][40][41]	Tries: 3 1 (8') Destiny Brill 1 (21') Tarryn Aiken 1 (56') Evania Pelite Goals: 1 1/2 Ali Brigginshaw (22') 0/2 Lauren Brown

2023[edit]

The two-match series was decided as the teams win one match each on aggregate.^[42]
Queensland won by four points, 32–28.
Game 1

New South Wales	10 – 18	Queensland
Tries: 2 Jessica Sergis (16') 1 Jaime Chapman (50') 1 Goals: 1 Jesse Southwell 1/2 (18')	1st: 6–10 2nd: 4–8 Highlights Match Stats (NRL) Reports[43][44]	Tries: 4 2 (7', 45') Julia Robinson 1 (32') Tazmin Gray 1 (40') Emily Bass Goals: 1 1/4 Zahara Temara (34')

Game 2

Queensland	14 – 18	New South Wales
Tries: 3 Tamika Upton (17') 1 Emily Bass (25') 1 Tarryn Aiken (27') 1 Goals: 1 Zahara Temara 1/3 (29')	1st: 6–14 2nd: 8–4 Highlights Match Stats (NRL) Reports [45][46][47]	Tries: 3 2 (3', 40') Tiana Penitani 1 (68' penalty try) Yasmin Clydsdale Goals: 3 3/5 Jesse Southwell (9', 45', 69')

2024[edit]

For the first time, in either the residential selection or Origin period, a three-match series was scheduled.
Game 1

Queensland	12 – 22	New South Wales
Tries: 2 Tamika Upton (53') 1 Emily Bass (67') 1 Goals: 2 Zahara Temara 2/2 (53', 68')	1st: 0–14 2nd: 12–8 Highlights Match Stats (NRL) Reports [48][49]	Tries: 3 1 (5') Emma Tonegato 1 (9') Jaime Chapman 1 (64') Caitlan Johnston Goals: 5 Rachael Pearson 5/5 (6', 10', 18' pen, 38' pen, 65')

Game 2

New South Wales	10 – 11	Queensland
Tries: 2 Keeley Davis (24') 1 Tiana Penitani (58') 1 Goals: 1 Rachael Pearson 1/2 (25')	1st: 6–0 2nd: 4–11 Highlights Match Stats (NRL) Reports [50][51][52]	Tries: 2 1 (54') Shenae Ciesiolka 1 (61') Tarryn Aiken Goals: 1 1/2 Lauren Brown (63') Field Goals: 1 1 Lauren Brown (68')

See also[edit]

• NRL Women's Premiership
• NSWRL Women's Premiership
• QRL Women's Premiership
• State of Origin series
• Rugby league in Australia
• Australian regional rivals – NSW vs. QLD

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Women's Rugby League news section