Olivia Kernick stamps authority as NSW win women's State of Origin over Queensland
Olivia Kernick has helped NSW claim the women's State of Origin series with a game to spare after powering the Blues to a 26-6 victory over Queensland.
Kernick, who was controversially overlooked for the Australian Test team after winning the 2024 NRLW Dally M Medal, scored two tries and set up another on Thursday night as the Blues inflicted more misery on the Maroons to win game two.
After the Blues opened the series with a 32-12 win over Queensland in Brisbane, John Strange's side can look to seal a 3-0 whitewash in the game-three dead rubber at Newcastle's McDonald Jones Stadium on May 29.
Kernick came to the fore on a dour, rain-soaked night in front of 16,026 fans at Allianz Stadium.
The lock forward led from the front, clocking up a game-high 169 metres and, while her night didn't get off to a great start, she more than made amends.
Fighting to keep their hopes of retaining the series alive, the Maroons got an early break when Lauren Brown dabbed a grubberkick into the NSW in-goal.
Kernick failed to gather the ball cleanly and Tamika Upton was on hand to touch down for Queensland with an easy kick that Brown converted.
But Kernick picked her moments for revenge and when she struck she did with both power and panache.
First she set up an on-rushing Simaima Taufa, who ran a sharp line and bumped off a host of covering Maroons to draw the Blues level.
Then Kernick went herself, crashing through three tackles and palming off Upton to score under the posts to give NSW a 12-6 halftime lead.
Halfback Jesse Southwell was a major reason the Blues were able to turn the screw in the second half.
The playmaker trapped Queensland in-goal with a crossfield kick early in the stanza and off the ensuing set Southwell's cutout was the catalyst for winger Jayme Fressard to score in the corner.
Then the Blues other winger Jaime Chapman breezed in on the right flank to put NSW on the brink of a series crown.
Any chance Queensland had of clawing their way back into the game evaporated when Upton hobbled off.
The fullback tried to play on after suffering a hamstring injury as she came across to prevent Chapman's try but eventually succumbed to the pain.
Kernick then crashed in for her second try during with eight minutes left to put the game beyond Queensland's reach.
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