Latest news with #OliviaKernick
News.com.au
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Kernick wins Nellie Doherty Medal
State of Origin: 2024 Dally M Medal winner Olivia Kernick has won the Nellie Doherty Medal, after being named the best player of the 2025 State of Origin series.
SBS Australia
16-05-2025
- Sport
- SBS Australia
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.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'What a joke': Calls for investigation after $828m 'disgrace' in women's Origin
The surface at Allianz Stadium in Sydney has once again come under fire after atrocious conditions for Game 2 of the women's State of Origin series. Olivia Kernick was the hero for NSW, scoring two tries as the Blues wrapped up the series victory with a 26-6 win over Queensland on Thursday night. But the game was marred by more complaints regarding the Allianz surface, after $828 million was spent to rebuild it in 2022. Sydney was hit by a downpour before kick-off, and there was more steady rain throughout the match. But you wouldn't expect to see puddles and water all over the surface at a brand-new stadium that cost $828 million to renovate. Holding onto the ball proved very tricky on Thursday night, and water splashed up every time the players went to ground. It marked the third time since Allianz was re-opened that the venue had been turned into a swimming pool during a match, and serious questions are being asked about whether the drainage at the stadium is adequate. The first time it occurred was last year during a game between the Eels and Roosters, and officials at the time insisted it wouldn't be an ongoing issue. But we saw it again in Round 1 of this year when the Roosters took on the Broncos. Warren Smith said in commentary at the time: 'This surface, there will be an investigation again into this playing surface, after the dramas of last year. 'The flood, after a bit of a downpour during the early part of the game, the field was under water between the Roosters and the Eels in August last year. It hasn't been raining to that extent in Sydney to explain this surface." Calls are growing for an investigation once again, with fans and commentators blasting the situation on social media. The surface was labelled "horrendous" and a "disgrace" by angry footy watchers on Thursday night. 'Obviously it's not the best conditions out here," said NSW forward Kezie Aps at half-time. 'So it's just the team who completes the holds the ball and completes each set that I think is going to win the game today.' While Channel 9's Emma Lawrence said at full-time: "They've done it in horrendous conditions, they're covered in mud.' How in 2025, can we not have stadium with drainage to take a solid downpour — 91 03 21 22 23 24 PREMIERS 🐾🏆 (@SnoogThe) May 15, 2025 Glad they built a brand new ground that doesn't drain! 👌 — Lisa (@74abilas) May 15, 2025 Do you remember the Roosters game around this time last year where it bucketed down and was the same with surface water. Awful, nothing has improved #Origin — RugbyLeagueIsTheNameOfTheGame (@RugbyLeagueHARD) May 15, 2025 Allianz. Billion dollar stadium, 25 cent surface. Geez it's awful. #StateOfOrigin #RugbaLeeg — Pete Oliver (@TheVoon) May 15, 2025 The ground at Allianze is an utter disgrace. Sydney has not had that much rain to justify sooo much surface water. — Mr_Ives (@Mr_Ives_) May 15, 2025 Allianz stadium a disgrace!!! How can there be that much water on a brand new stadium!!! — rod catz (@rodcatz) May 15, 2025 Couldn't agree more. Allianz should have had a retractable roof as should Suncorp…Funniest part is fans being told they would be undercover in all seats at Allianz stadium….what a joke that is… — Duke25 (@Duke2517) May 15, 2025 Meanwhile, Kernick is the toast of NSW after the Blues forward powered her state to women's State of Origin glory. Controversially overlooked for selection in the Australian team at the end of last year, Kernick showed how wrong that decision was with a starring performance on Thursday night. The lock forward scored two tries and set up another as the Blues inflicted more misery on the Maroons. The reigning NRLW Dally M medallist came to the fore in the dour conditions in front of 16,026 fans. Kernick ran for 169 metres as the Blues claimed the series with one game to spare. John Strange's side can become the first to secure a women's Origin whitewash with victory in Newcastle on May 29. "I had a feeling tonight she was going to shine, and I thought she led our forward pack really well," NSW captain Isabelle Kelly said of Kernick. "She opens up every space for everyone to be honest especially when she runs." with AAP
ABC News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Five quick hits from Women's State of Origin II: Brilliant Blues punish Maroons for series win
The Dally M medallist shines, a controversial try, damaging defence, and driving rain in a watershed win for the Blues. Here are five quick hits from Women's State of Origin Game II at the Sydney Football Stadium. Blues lock Olivia Kernick dominated by every measure - and last year's Dally M medallist was the undisputed player of the match. She had two tries plus an assist, made 35 tackles, ran a mammoth 236 metres, and had 10 tackle breaks - the same as the entire Maroons side. But her most poetic moment of the match was her classic don't argue to fend off Tamika Upton on her way to her first try. She was understated when speaking to ABC Sport after the match. 'I'm just super proud, we've worked so hard the last six weeks in our training block and this week in camp, so super stoked and happy,' she said. ABC Sport commentator Andrew Moore summed it up simply: 'This field is a disgrace.' Heavy rain dumped onto the Sydney Football Stadium before the match, and despite easing off in time for kick off – the state of the surface got progressively worse throughout the game. It was near impossible to see many of the field markings, and there were multiple patches of large puddles. The conditions had a bigger impact on the Maroons who made more errors, while the Blues kept it smart and simple, while still producing entertaining footy. Unfortunately it affected the crowd numbers - with just over 16,000 fans turning up, well shy of the record 26,022 fans that attended Game I in Brisbane. The Maroons got the first real look at the tryline on the night and made sure to use the slippery conditions to their advantage when Lauren Brown poked a grubber into the in-goal from close range. Kernick couldn't take the ball cleanly before Upton came through to dive on it, but everyone looked resigned to the result being a line dropout. On-field referee Belinda Sharpe sent it to the bunker as no try, believing both NSW and Queensland players knocked on, but Gerard Sutton saw it differently. "At no point is Olivia Kernick trying to ground the ball, she is trying to gain possession and fails to do so. Queensland then comes through and grounds the ball in the in-goal. We have a decision," he said. Meanwhile, the Maroons were all in position to field the dropout and couldn't hide their amusement when 'TRY' flashed up on the big screen. Kernick was slightly less tickled. "Are you kidding? grounded the ball," a stunned Kernick said to Sharpe. Later, NSW prop and Nine commentator Millie Elliott said: "Even Tamika and the whole of the Queensland side were surprised that was a try." Whether it was a legitimate try or not, it certainly lit a fire under Kernick and the Blues. After the bunker's dubious call, the Blues on the park showed remarkable composure to stay in the fight, but up in the box there was some tension building. NSW coach John Strange had a mid-game chat to broadcaster Channel Nine and relatively politely let his feelings be known about the refereeing, saying the Maroons were slowing down the ruck. "Hopefully they get penalised for laying all over us," Strange said. The ruck speed was slow and the calls were not forthcoming from Sharpe, but Strange appeared even more frustrated after the game when star centre Jessica Sergis missed the entire second half with a neck injury. Sergis was clearly struggling after being caught in a tackle and was still ginger and disoriented after the game, with her tears appearing to be about more than the victory. Strange was again somewhat diplomatic in the press conference after the game, saying a number of his players were caught in unpunished crusher tackles, which was "disappointing". The Blues were damaging in defence – and like Game I, their forward pack once again laid the foundation for the win. They were determined and unrelenting in forcing the Maroons back into their own territory and making them pay for any missteps. One of the standout moments was in the build up to the Blues' first try. They pinned the Maroons in their own half, piled the pressure on Ali Brigginshaw who couldn't get a decent kick away, and from the ensuing set they steamrolled through the middle, with Simaima Taufa bursting through for the try that opened the floodgates.
News.com.au
15-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Kernick stars! NSW reclaim Origin shield
State of Origin: Olivia Kernick has helped inspire the New South Wales Blues to a series win after the first two games of the 2025 State of Origin series.
