As it happened: Blues score tight win in series opener

Player of the match

Yasmin Meakes: 34 tackles, 8 runs, 4 metres, 3 tackle breaks, 3 offloads.

Fulltime: A field goal by home town hero Jesse Southwell helped NSW snatch an 11-6 win over Queensland in an epic State of Origin opener at McDonald Jones Stadium. Southwell, who is leaving Newcastle to join the Broncos in the upcoming NRLW season, slotted a perfectly executed field goal six minutes before fulltime to break a 6-6 all deadlock. The Maroons, who lost Mackenzie Weale in the opening tackle, led at halftime after a try by her replacement Otesa Pule in her Origin debut but NSW prop Ellie Johnston levelled the scores soon after the interval. The Maroons also lost Keilee Joseph - arguably their best player - in the second half and may be forced into changes for Origin II at Suncorp Stadium on May 14. Despite the narrow loss, the Maroons have home ground advantage with the next two games in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

70 min: Jess Sergis scores on the last play of the game after Southwell and Penitani shifted the ball. Southwell missed the conversion. Blues 11 Maroons 6

69 min: Kelleher has forced a goal line drop out. 

67 min: The Maroons have won a captain's challenge after Millie Elliott was penalised for interfering in the play the ball.

64 min: Southwell makes no mistake with her shot at field goal. Blues 7 Maroons 6.

63 min: Lauren Brown has missed a field goal attempt.

62 min: Brill has put Queensland in attacking position after charging down an attempted field goal by Southwell.

Crowd: 20179

59 min: Joseph has been forced from the field again and won't return after suffering a head knock attempting a tackle on Blues secondrower Tiana Penitani Gray. The Maroons can active 18th player Destiny Brill.

58 min: A trysaving tackle by Church and Yasmin Meakes stopped Jada Ferguson on the line and forced the ball loose.

58 min: Joseph is back on.

56 min: Teagan Berry has come on and is playing left wing, with Fressard moving into the middle and Olivia Kernick coming to the sideline. 

55 min: We are all locked up after Blues prop Ellie Johnston charges over after sustained pressure and Southwell converted. Blues 6 Maroons 6

Defence III: Jocelyn Kelleher has forced a turnover near the Maroons line with a big shot on Ciesiolka. 

Defence II: Queensland's goal line defence continues to stand tall after repelling the Blues.

Defence: The Maroons right edge defence has been tested by Isabelle Kelly and Jayme Fressard on their own line and come through with flying colours. 

Breaking: Jillaroos secondrower Keilee Joseph has come from the field in a blow for the Maroons, who have already lost prop Mackenzie Weale and only had two forwards on the bench.

The second half is underway: The Blues have come out fired up in defence after the break. 

Halftime summary: The stats are even and there has only been one try scored but the opening 35 minutes had all the hallmarks of a Queensland ambush. Despite losing prop Mackenzie Weale in the opening tackle, the Maroons enjoyed better field position through the boot of rookie halfback Chantay Kiria-Ratu, whose spiral bombs caused NSW fullback Abbi Church all sorts of problems. The humidity is high and each team has committed three errors apiece. With players enduring their first match of the season, Queensland may struggle more with fatigue as they have just one running forward remaining on the bench after the loss of Weale.

Berry on the bench: Both coaches have gone to their benches with Apps, Kennedy Cherrington and Olivia Higgins on for the Blues and Chelsea Lenarduzzi, Shenae Ciesiolka and Emma Manzelmann into the fray for the Maroons. Blues strike weapon Teagan Berry is the only interchange player yet to be used.

25 min: A trysaving tackle by Tamika Upton on a runaway Jaime Chapman.

20 min: Jillaroos captain Kezie Apps is on for NSW, replacing Elliott in the frontrow.

Breaking: Weale has been ruled out with a Category 1 HIA. She could be available for Origin II in two weeks under the NRL's mandatory 11-day standown for head knocks.

7 min: The Blues are in a good attacking position after back-to-back penalties.

Kiwi power: Pule is a beneficiary of the new Origin rules enabling NSW and Queensland eligible players from New Zealand and England to play Origin.

3 min: Otesa Pule has charged over for the opening try of the series after NSW fullback Abbi Church put down a Chantay Kiria-Ratu bomb. Brown converts. Maroons 6-0

Kick off: We are underway and Mackenzie Weale has come off worse for wear from the opening tackle. She has gone off for HIA. Otesa Pule is on. 

Weather: It's the first time Origin has been played in Newcastle when it hasn't been raining.

Stat attack: NSW have never won at Blue Castle - losing Game III in 2025 and Game II in 2024 after a Lauren Brown field goal.

Mum's the word: Millie Elliott will play her first game since the 2024 Pacific Cup final after missing last season while pregnant.

New era for Queensland: The Maroons will not have Ali Brigginshaw in their side for the first time in a decade after her Origin retirement. New coach Nathan Cross has picked some fresh faces. 

Homecoming queen: How will Newcastle fans react to NSW halfback Jesse Southwell in her first match since quitting the Knights for the Broncos at the end of last season?

Late Mail

NSW: The Blues line up 1-17 with no late changes. Corban Baxter is the reserve and Rima Butler is the last player to drop out of the squad an hour before kick-off. Coach John Strange has selected 14 players from the team which claimed last year’s Ampol Women’s State of Origin series in his squad to face Queensland in the series opener. The new faces include debutant Teagan Berry, who has been named on the bench, and former Jillaroos prop Millie Elliott, who returns after having a baby.

Maroons: No further changes an hour before kick-off after debutante Ivania Lolesio came into the starting side on Wednesday and Shenae Ciesiolka shifted to the bench. Brianna Clark dropped out as a result. “Mini (Lolesio) coming into the starting role, we thought that was best for us at the moment balance-wise, with her and Phoenix (Raine Hippi) having played footy together," Maroons assistant coach Ty Williams said. "Shenae gives up a bit of coverage and also options as well of where we need to put her, wing, centre and potentially can fill in at fullback as well, so the versatility piece was important for us.” Destiny Brill is the reserve.

Numbers Game

• In their 2025 series win, the Blues outscored the Maroons 72-36.
• The Blues’ line-up includes seven Sydney Roosters players.
• The Maroons line-up of 17 includes three uncapped State of Origin players.
• The Blues have played 122 Origin games compared to the Maroons’ 91.
• The Maroons have won both Origin matches at McDonald Jones Stadium.