Kernick stars as Blues claim women's Origin series
Olivia Kernick is the toast of NSW after the Blues lock powered her state to a women's State of Origin series victory in a 26-6 win over Queensland. The Maori Wiradjuri woman scored two tries and set up another on Thursday night as the Blues inflicted more misery on the Maroons to win game two.
The 24-year-old, who was controversially overlooked for the Australian Test team after winning last year's NRLW Dally M Medal, came to the fore on a dour, rain-soaked evening in front of 16,026 fans at Allianz Stadium. Kernick clocked up 169m as the Blues claimed the series with a game to spare. "I had a feeling tonight she was going to shine, and I thought she led our forward pack really well," said Blues captain Isabelle Kelly. "She opens up every space for everyone to be honest especially when she runs."
Leading 2-0, John Strange's side can seal the first series whitewash with victory at Newcastle's McDonald Jones Stadium on May 29. The 2025 series is only the second three-game series in the history of women's Origin. "Every game that we go into we want to win, it doesn't matter whether it's 1-0 or 2-0," said Strange. "The goal was to win the series but I was really impressed with how we played, that's what I am really proud of."
Tamika Upton scored the Maroons' only try of the night in the sixth minute and that was about as good as it got for Queensland. The Maroons forward pack were dominated and their struggles for territory were compounded when Upton hobbled off in the second half, leaving a question mark over her fitness heading into game three. "It was obviously disappointing to lose her in that second half," said Queensland coach Tahnee Norris. "She held on for as long as she could but I think we'll have to wait for the scans and see how she tracks over the next 48 hours."
Queensland's try came after a rare mistake from Kernick who failed to cleanly gather a Lauren Brown grubberkick, with Upton swooping on the loose ball. 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 with eight minutes left to put the game beyond Queensland's reach.
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