Latest news with #Upton
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Maroons seek to avoid historic Origin sweep as Hayley Maddick makes up for lost time
Hayley Maddick makes her Qld Maroons debut against NSW Blues in Game 3 of the 2025 Women's State of Origin series in Newcastle on Thursday night. Hayley Maddick makes her Qld Maroons debut against NSW Blues in Game 3 of the 2025 Women's State of Origin series in Newcastle on Thursday night. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP The significance of the third Women's State of Origin game is not lost on Queensland's newest player Hayley Maddick, the fullback and former touch football ace drafted in for the Maroons' mission to restore pride on Thursday night. After two humbling defeats to New South Wales, Queensland's players are at risk of suffering the ignominy of the first women's Origin clean sweep since the series was extended to three games last season. Advertisement 'The shield's gone, but we still have plenty to play for,' Maddick said ahead of her Origin debut. 'We've got family coming down, we've got people watching the game, and we're playing for a bit of dignity.' Related: NSW Blues' historic State of Origin series win turns the tide for women's rugby league | Angus Fontaine Queensland fought back in last year's series to claim game two and then the decider, but this year the contest has been more one-sided. The Blues have been dominant in the first two games – with 32–12 and 26–6 victories – and the Maroons' fortunes took another blow when Jillaroos fullback Tamika Upton was ruled out of the third match. The 33-year-old Maddick's football fate has long been intertwined with Upton's. They both enjoyed outstanding touch football careers before joining the Broncos in the NRLW and both are elusive ball runners and playmakers. Maddick describes Upton, who is five years younger than her, as one of her best friends. The pair will even reunite at the Broncos this year after Upton's departure from the Knights. Advertisement Maddick's elevation from Maroons backup looked likely when Upton went down clutching her leg, but her debut was not guaranteed until a call from coach Tahnee Norris. 'I saw her calling and my heart started racing,' Maddick said. The former NRL touch player of the year only debuted in the NRLW in her late 20s, and speaks with reverence about the likes of Upton and Tarryn Aikin. 'It's funny, because I'm inspired by so many people that are so much younger than me, and I love listening to them speak and the way they think about the game, like Tamika and Tarryn,' Maddick said. She was invited to trial with the NRLW Broncos in 2020 but actually turned down her first contract offer. 'I was probably a little bit naive,' she said. 'I wanted to keep playing touch [football]. But the second I said no, I regretted it.' Maddick is now making up for lost time, and in 2024 produced the best season of her short career. 'It's not unusual in women's sport, because everyone has a different background, but I only really started playing footy seriously in my late 20s, and in all honesty, it felt like last year I've finally got a grasp on the game properly.' Advertisement She will face a confident Blues line-up, who made the most of an error-ridden Maroons in game one and adjusted better to torrential rain in game two. 'Conditions really were awful in the last game, so that obviously changes a lot of things in the style that you want to play,' Maddick said. 'It probably benefited New South Wales and the fact that they've got really big, strong girls, I think we've got really good, crafty, smart players, but conditions didn't really allow for a lot of ball movement.' Related: State of Origin success shows women's rugby league deserves to stand tall on its own | Ruan Sims The Maroons must also overcome an opponent buoyed by strong home support in Newcastle, the city which has become the capital for women's rugby league. But the team remains optimistic given the outcome at McDonald Jones Stadium last year, when Lauren Brown slotted a late field goal that swung momentum to the Maroons on their way to the shield. A near-capacity crowd of 25,782 attended that night despite the inclement weather, underlining the emergence of the women's game. 'I'd love to be a teenager at this point coming into the game now,' Maddick said. But she noted it still had some way to go. 'I hope it gets to a full-time wage – at the moment, it's not – but even still, just being a part of it while it's growing to that point is exciting.'
The Advertiser
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
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. Kernick 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. 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. Kernick 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. 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. Kernick 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.
West Australian
15-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Kernick stars as Blues claim women's Origin series
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.
7NEWS
15-05-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
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.
Perth Now
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Kernick stars as Blues claim women's Origin series
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.
