Latest news with #WomensStateOfOrigin
ABC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Women's State of Origin III quick hits: Brigginshaw not retiring, Kelly emotional over try blunder
Ali Brigginshaw has no plans to retire, Isabelle Kelly gets emotional about her first-half blunder, and NSW unearths an Origin heel. Here are five quick hits from the conclusion to the Women's State of Origin series. Ali Brigginshaw became the target of some justified criticism after struggling as Queensland lost the first two games of this year's State of Origin series. Unfortunately, along with that came horrible, inexcusable vitriol on social media, with her wife revealing this week they had been told to "kill themselves". It came as coach Tahnee Norris made a shrewd reshuffle in an attempt to spark the Maroons and save some state pride. Lauren Brown and Tarryn Aiken formed a more dynamic attacking halves pairing in Game III, while Brigginshaw came on after the 15-minute mark and stayed for the duration, orchestrating from the middle of the field as a dummy half and link option at lock. After the game ended a "really tough" week, 35-year-old Brigginshaw was adamant she had no plans to retire. "Tonight I remembered why I play footy. I love it and I got to do that again tonight," she said. "I do want to keep playing on. I think people just look at your age and think that's enough. I still love my footy. "I'm not saying people have to pick me just because I've been here before. I'm really proud to represent Queensland. I do anything, I play any position I'm asked." Do you have a story idea about women in sport? Email us abcsport5050@ Win or lose, the Newcastle fans would get to see their team lift the shield on Thursday night, so the vibes were high in the lead-up to kick-off. But immediately the fans, many of whom were still yet to find their seats, were left rubbing their eyes as the Maroons offered up one of the worst kick-offs you'll ever see. Trying to be unorthodox to unsettle the rampant Blues, they tried to go short (and did) but barely kicked the ball 5 metres forward before it skidded over the sideline. Then, with NSW trying to recover after Chelsea Lenarduzzi's 65th-minute crashball try, Jesse Southwell tried a similar kick and actually nailed it. Right winger Jaime Chapman appeared to wait just long enough before grabbing the ball just after it crossed the red 40m line. But everyone, including the Blues, stopped in their tracks, forgetting the golden rule: Play to the whistle. Eventually, the whistle came from Belinda Sharpe and the penalty was blown, even if it didn't seem right. Isabelle Kelly's botched try in the 21st minute felt like a bit of a funny sideshow. She dove in untouched after a lovely left-side shift and the try was awarded, but before Southwell could take the conversion, referee Sharpe blew the whistle for a bunker review. It did look very easy? Was there an obstruction in the lead-up? Had a Queenslander hit her as she scored and we were looking at an eight-point try? No. As it turned out, she had been held up. By herself. The ball had never managed to make contact with the ground through her own right forearm. A pedantic, if technically correct, implementation of the rule we could all share a derisive chuckle about in a dead rubber, but not Kelly. With the margin ultimately only four points, the NSW captain couldn't get through her explanation of the event even after lifting the shield. "I'm obviously someone that gets quite disappointed when I let my team down, it makes me a bit emotional, like right now. Sorry," Kelly told reporters before choking back tears and taking a minute to compose herself as coach John Strange hailed his skipper as "an inspiration" to her teammates, the next generation and Strange himself. It was a reminder of how much this series and this game means to Kelly and her ilk. ABC Sport is live blogging every round of the AFL and NRL seasons in 2025. Origin loves its villains, and the Blues might just have one in Jayme Fressard. The Roosters winger was given the nod on the left flank of this formidable Blues backline this season and didn't disappoint, with four tries in her first series. But the fiery 27-year-old also added a bit of mongrel in Game III, getting in the face of every Maroons player who dared to challenge her, including but not limited to Sienna Lofipo, Shenae Ciesiolka and Lauren Brown. As she left the field at half-time, like the best heels, she acted like she was an innocent victim in all this and it was the Queenslanders who started it all. "I feel like that's all they've got, just try to get us angry, so keep going," Fressard told Nine. As NSW searched desperately for a fissure in Queensland's 12-woman defensive line after the siren, it was fitting that it was the veteran Brigginshaw who perfectly read and pinched Yasmin Clydsdale's pass. She could go to ground and her teammates would swarm her in joy. Instead, she kept running for 20 metres. OK, sure, you can't pass up a shot at a runaway try. But she was mowed down and then … she offloaded. Peculiar. Emily Bass caught the ball on the right wing. Surely she would just hoof it over the sideline, right? Nope. She jinked in-field and, perhaps reading from her skipper's songbook, she passed too. Debutant Georgia Hannaway had the misfortune of being the support player in position and was suitably stunned to receive the pass under pressure and couldn't handle, giving the ball back to the Blues right on halfway. "They're in front, what are they doing?" Phil Gould cried from the Nine commentary box. Fortunately for the Maroons, Tarryn Aiken and Julia Robinson arrived on the scene to tackle NSW fullback Abbi Church and officially end the match. It was like the Maroons had somehow pulled off the Great Escape, but hung around to do some sick wheelies just in front of the guard tower, and it almost cost them dearly.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Late try helps Maroons save face in Game 3 of women's Origin series
Queensland salvaged pride in the Women's State of Origin series by claiming the third contest 18-14 thanks to a second-half comeback in Newcastle that prevented the Blues from securing a first clean sweep in the three-match series. Powerful Maroons prop Chelsea Lenarduzzi crashed over from an Ali Brigginshaw pass with four minutes to go, taking three Blues defenders with her, to put Queensland into the lead and spoil the Blues' party. 'Ali actually gave me a bit of a look, and I knew what she meant,' Lenarduzzi said. 'It's one of my favourite plays, and worked at the right time.' The pair combined for the deciding try, but their impact was also central from the start of Thursday's improved Queensland performance. Maroons coach Tahnee Norris sent shock waves through the sport before kick-off when she named Brigginshaw – captain and Jillaroos great – on the bench and promoted Lenarduzzi to the starting lineup. The burly prop played the first ten minutes and helped set the tone after the Maroons suffered 32-12 and 26-6 defeats earlier in the series. Aided by the physicality of Lenarduzzi – who was not selected for the first game and played off the bench in the second – Queensland offered early punch, and were rewarded with a seventh minute try to Makenzie Weale. 'An Origin is still an Origin,' Lenarduzzi said afterwards. 'You represent yourself, your state, and this group is really cool, we've had a really good time in camp, and we've obviously been really disappointed the last couple of games, so we needed a show we were capable of.' Although NSW had already secured the shield, another strong crowd of 21,912 turned out in Newcastle, consolidating the city's status as the home of women's rugby league. They came despite a forecast of rain that turned into a downpour at the final whistle. And they were treated to a mix of the brilliant and the bizarre in a tight contest. The game's strangest moment came midway through the first half, when Blues captain Isabelle Kelly crossed untouched for what seemed to be a try to put her side on the board. Kelly slid into the in-goal, but skidded across the turf on her ball-carrying arm without completing the grounding. The mistake was an embarrassment for one of the game's most accomplished players, who shook her head as she watched the replay and the bunker disallowed the try. It was the standout in a series of wild sequences in the first half, which also included two more disallowed tries – both would-be try-scorers adjudged out of play by millimetres – a fiery tussle between Queensland winger Julia Robinson and her opposite number Jaime Chapman, and one of the season's best try-saving tackles. Maroons centre Emily Bass grabbed a bouncing ball a metre out from the Blues try line with no one in front of her, but NSW fullback Abbi Church managed to race in and twist her opponent to prevent the grounding. It was a piece of skill befitting the Origin stage, as was the 20m cut-out pass by Jesse Southwell to set up the Blues' second try. The Blues had all the momentum in the second half when they raced to a 14-6 lead with 20 minutes to go. Interchange hooker Jocelyn Kelleher leaped out from dummy half and away from the clutches of Brigginshaw to score what appeared to be the decisive four-pointer. Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion But 35-year-old Brigginshaw would have the last laugh. Five minutes later five-eighth Tarryn Aiken grubbered for Romy Teitzel to score, and then the captain sent Lenarduzzi over to curb celebrations in the Hunter. 'A bit of a disappointing end to the game three, but we've still got to keep our spirits high,' Church said. 'We're still going to get to lift the shield, we would have liked to get that clean sweep, but it wasn't meant to be today.' Maroons forward Jess Elliston ran for 143m was named player of the match, and Blues' lock Olivia Kernick claimed the award for player of the series.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Fans turn on Phil Gould over baffling State of Origin try call
Fans have ripped into Phil Gould after his call on a disallowed try during Queensland's 18-14 win in the third Women's State of Origin game on Thursday night. The Blues were chasing a historic clean sweep in front of 21,912 fans in Newcastle, following dominant wins in Brisbane and Sydney earlier this month, but the Maroons hit back to salvage some pride. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The match got off to a horror start when Queensland's attempted short kick-off travelled barely five metres and went straight into touch. The Maroons soon got on top, however, with Sienna Lofipo unlucky to narrowly touch the dead ball line attempting to ground a grubber in the fifth minute. Watch the botched try attempt in the video player above Queensland then did open the scoring with a try to Mackenzie Weale, with a minor scuffle breaking out a short time later between Maroon Julia Robinson and the Blues' Jaime Chapman in a contest that resembled anything but a dead rubber. Enter Isabelle Kelly and NRL veteran Gould. The Blues' Yasmin Clydsdale found Abbi Church, who offloaded to Kelly and the Sydney Rooster had acres of space to score the simplest of tries. The four-pointer was awarded before referee Belinda Sharpe halted play for a video review. Sadly for the 28-year-old Kelly, she had failed to ground the ball. Speaking on ABC Radio, Andrew Moore declared: 'I've never, ever, ever, ever seen a worse blown try than that.' It was an unfortunate moment and one that was clear for all to see. Except that is, for Bulldogs boss Gould. 'It's her arm. I hate this interpretation, I really do,' Gould said on Channel 9. 'That's a try in every grade of rugby league, everywhere in the world, at any time, unless you're on TV. 'I hate that rule. I reckon if it's your arm, it's down. 'That's a try. Why be so pedantic?' Queensland legend Darren Lockyer tried to be a voice of reason, offering: 'She's hard done by, but I guess she'll learn her lesson too.' But Gould wasn't finished, shooting back: 'It's a try every Saturday morning in junior league. 'It's a try every Saturday afternoon in A Grade, it's a try every afternoon in NSW Cup.' Fans on social media immediately made Gus' comment go viral. Shaun Mancini wrote on X: 'Gus 'I hate that rule'. The rule being that you must ground the ball to be awarded a try. Far out.' The Cumberland Throw tweeted: 'Gus complaining about the need to ground the ball is actually next level.' Daniel Potter said: 'Is that moron Gus Gould actually trying to argue that the try should have been awarded despite it never having made contact with the ground? Absolute clown.' An account perhaps ironically called King Gould pleaded: 'Can Gus Gould just give up the media work … In the box tonight he is creating new rules where you don't need to place the ball on the ground to score. Just give it up.' Gus: Great try. Probably. #Origin — KJ (@the_cage) May 29, 2025 An account perhaps ironically called King Gould pleaded: 'Can Gus Gould just give up the media work … In the box tonight he is creating new rules where you don't need to place the ball on the ground to score. Just give it up.' Scott New offered: 'So Gus Gould doesn't think you have to ground the ball anymore. Gus that's call Gridiron.' Another fan took it further, coming up with a set of new rugby league rules, according to Gould. 'What will be Gus's next big call?' they wrote. 'Conversions don't need to go between the posts, dropping the ball forward isn't a knock on and the team who scores more points shouldn't win.' In a tight contest, the Blues added a second try in the first half to take an 8-6 lead into the sheds. NSW extended its lead with a try in the 48th minute, the Queensland hit back with two late tries and survived a frantic finish to avoid the clean sweep.
ABC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Women's State of Origin live: NSW Blues aim for sweep against Queensland Maroons in Newcastle
The Queensland Maroons face an uphill battle to avoid the first 3-0 sweep in Women's State of Origin history, taking on a rampant NSW Blues side in the third game in Newcastle. Follow all the action in our live blog below and tune in to our live radio coverage.
The Guardian
28-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
Maroons seek to avoid historic State of Origin sweep as Hayley Maddick makes up for lost time
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. '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.' 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. 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.' 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. Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion '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.' 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.'
