The New South Wales Women's rugby league team represents the Australian state of New South Wales in Women's rugby league football. Also known as the Sky Blues due to their sky blue jerseys, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against the neighboring team, the Queensland Women's rugby league team.[1][2][3]
| Team information | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Sky Blues |
| Governing body | New South Wales Women's Rugby League |
| Region | New South Wales |
| Head coach | Kylie Hilder |
| Home stadium | North Sydney Oval |
| Team results | |
| First game | |
| (1999) | |
| Biggest win | |
 New South Wales 22–6 Queensland  (WIN Stadium, Wollongong, NSW; 23 July 2017) | |
History
editThe first state of Origin match began in 1999. Since that time, a 17-year reign had been completed by the Queensland side.
New South Wales won their first interstate challenge in 2016 after coming so close to winning in 2015, drawing with Queensland 4 all. New South Wales would then win back to back title winning in 2017. In 2018 New South Wales won the first ever Women's State of Origin match which was held at North Sydney Oval in mid-2018.NSW retained the shield with a win once again at North Sydney Oval in 2019.
Players
editNew South Wales women's squad for the first match of the three-match series was announced on 8 May 2024.[4] The first match was played on 16 May 2023. The second match was played on 6 June 2024 with an unchanged team. The squad named for the third match was also unchanged, although Olivia Kernick was named in jersey 13, reflecting the position, lock, which she played in the first two matches.[5]
Current squad
editTable last updated 28 June 2024. Tallies in the table include the third match of the 2024 series against Queensland.
| J# | Player | Age | Position(s) | New South Wales | 2024 State Club | NRLW | Tests | All Stars | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dbt | M | T | G | Pts | Club | M | 2024 Club | CM | TM | ||||||
| 1 | Emma Tonegato | 29 | Fullback | 2012 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 8 | — | 0 |  Sharks |
9 | 22 |  9 |
 1
|
| 2 | Jaime Chapman | 22 | Wing | 2023 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 12 |  Seagulls |
1 |  Titans |
9 | 23 | 5 |
 4
|
| 3 | Jessica Sergis | 26 | Centre | 2017 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 20 | — | 0 |  Roosters |
18 | 28 | 7 |
— |
| 4 | Isabelle Kelly | 27 | Centre | 2015 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 20 | — | 0 | Roosters |
30 | 32 | 13 |
1
|
| 5 | Tiana Penitani | 28 | Wing | 2019 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 16 | — | 0 | Sharks |
9 | 25 | 1  1 |
— |
| 6 | Corban Baxter | 30 | Five-eighth | 2015 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 4 | — | 0 | Roosters |
22 | 22 | 7 |
1  4
|
| 7 | Rachael Pearson | 30 | Halfback | 2022 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 22 | — | 0 |  Eels |
6 | 18 | — | — |
| 8 | Millie Elliott | 26 | Prop | 2019 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | Roosters |
8 | 28 | 1 |
— |
| 9 | Olivia Higgins | 31 | Hooker | 2024 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |  Knights |
18 | 25 | — | — |
| 10 | Caitlan Johnston | 23 | Prop | 2022 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | Knights |
18 | 21 | 4 |
4
|
| 11 | Kezie Apps | 33 | Second-row | 2014 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 8 |  Clydesdales |
3 |  Tigers |
7 | 26 | 15 |
2
|
| 12 | Yasmin Clydsdale | 30 | Second-row | 2020 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 4 | — | 0 | Knights |
18 | 29 | 6 |
— |
| 13 | Olivia Kernick | 23 | Lock, Second-row | 2022 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Seagulls |
4 | Roosters |
23 | 23 | 6 |
2 2
|
| 14 | Taliah Fuimaono | 25 | Hooker, Five-eighth | 2023 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | Titans |
1 | 14 |  1 3 |
4
|
| 15 | Keeley Davis | 23 | Lock, Hooker | 2021 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 4 | Clydesdales |
4 | Roosters |
9 | 32 | 6 |
— |
| 16 | Grace Kemp | 23 | Prop, Lock | 2024 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |  Raiders |
9 | 9 | — | 1
|
| 17 | Sarah Togatuki | 26 | Prop, Lock | 2020 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | Tigers |
7 | 26 | 1 |
— |
| 18 | Jakiya Whitfeld | 23 | Wing, Centre | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  Cutters |
2 |  Cowboys |
0 | 11 | 1 |
— |
| 19 | Kirra Dibb | 26 | Halfback, Five-eighth | 2019 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | — | 0 | Cowboys |
9 | 27 | 1 |
3
|
| 20 | Ellie Johnston | 23 | Prop, Second-row | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | Sharks |
9 | 24 | — | — |
Notes
- Age is at 28 June 2024.
- Emma Tonegato played for the New South Wales women's rugby league team in 2012 and 2013.[6]
Key to icons used in the above table
- Tests:
Australia 
, 
Samoa 
and 
Tonga 
- All Stars:
Indigenous All Stars, Māori All Stars, 
All Stars
Results
edit| Year | Date | Winner | Score | Loser | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | July 4 | Queensland[7] | 16–14 | New South Wales | ANZ Stadium (Brisbane) |
| 2000 | July 9 | Queensland | New South Wales | ANZ Stadium (Brisbane) | |
| 2001 | July 22 | Queensland | 34–14 | New South Wales | ANZ Stadium (Brisbane) |
| 2002 | Queensland[8] | 26–16 | New South Wales | Ipswich | |
| 2003 | Queensland | New South Wales | |||
| 2004 | July 24 | Queensland | 40–8 | New South Wales | Suncorp Stadium |
| Queensland | 46–8 | New South Wales | Newcastle | ||
| 2005 | Aug 6 | Queensland | 20–18 | New South Wales | Henson Park |
2006
edit30 July 2006
|
| Queensland Women
|
40 – 24 | New South Wales Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Steph Hancock 2 Leah Williams 2 Teresa Anderson 1 Karyn Murphy 1 Megan Spicer 1 Goals Neena Fraser 4 Steph Hancock 1 Megan Spicer 1 |
Report |
Tries 1 Teina Clark 1 Dahlia Tahu 1 Nadine Schmidt 1 Johnnie Tukwaho Goals 4 Teina Clark |
2007
edit13 August 2007
3.30 PM |
| Queensland Women
|
38 – 16 | New South Wales Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Rachele Whelan 2 Bianca Ambrum 1 Teresa Anderson 1 Kellie Batchelor 1 Suzanne Johnson 1 Leah Williams 1 Goals Kellie Batchelor 5 |
Report HT 12-10 |
2008
editThe Woman's Interstate Challenge was played as a two-game series in 2008.
Game 1
edit8 July 2008
|
| Queensland Women
|
8 – 6 | New South Wales Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Steph Hancock 1 Tegan Rolfe 1 |
Report |
Tries 1 Jessica Palmer Goals 1 Teina Clark |
Game 2
edit9 August 2008
|
| Queensland Women
|
46 – 4 | New South Wales Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Bianca Ambrum 3 Suzanne Johnson 2 Tarah Westera 2 Tegan Rolfe 1 Renae Kunst 1 Steph Hancock 1 Goals Steph Hancock 3 |
Report Scores[9] |
Tries 1 Lisa Fiaola |
2009
edit18 July 2009
1:40 PM |
| Queensland Women
|
20 – 14 | New South Wales Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Erin Elliott 1 Tahnee Norris 1 Nive Moefaauo 1 Tarah Westera 1 Goals Natalie Dwyer 1 Tegan Rolfe 1 |
Report |
Tries 1 Poihaera Clark 1 Natalie Levy 1 Jessica Palmer Goals 1 Renee Gloss |
2010
edit26 June 2010
|
| Queensland Women
|
36 – 6 | New South Wales Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Latisha Gary 2 Tegan Rolfe 2 Karina Brown 1 Natalie Dwyer 1 Suzanne Johnson 1 Goals Natalie Dwyer 4 |
Report Report[11] |
Tries 1 Kylie Hilder Goals 1 Teina Clark |
2011
edit25 May 2011
|
| Queensland Women
|
26 – 0 | New South Wales Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Natalie Dwyer 1 Bianca Ambrum 1 Natasha Baggow 1 Natalie Gala 1 Karyn Murphy 1 Steph Hancock 1 Goals: Natalie Dwyer 1 |
Report[13] |
Tries: nil Goals: nil |
2012
edit23 June 2012
3.30 PM |
| Queensland Women
|
34 – 10 | New South Wales Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Bianca Ambrum 4 Natalie Dwyer 2 Karina Brown 1 Karyn Murphy 1 Goals: Amber Saltner 1 |
Report QLD Annual Report HT 16–10 |
Tries: 1 Tarah Westen 1 Samantha Hammond Goals: 1 Maddie Studdon |
Penrith Park
Player of the Match: Heather Ballinger |
2013
edit7 April 2013
|
| Queensland Women
|
30 – 12 | New South Wales Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Bianca Ambrum 1 Steph Hancock 1 Amber Saltner 1 Joanne Barrett 1 Renae Kunst 1 Tahnee Norris 1 Goals: Amber Saltner 3 |
QLD Annual Report Video Snippet HT 10–6 |
Tries: 2 Tegan Chandler Goals: 2 Margaret Watson |
Davies Park, West End, Brisbane
|
2014
edit19 July 2014
|
| Queensland Women
|
26 – 10 | New South Wales Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Renae Kunst 1 Deanna Turner 1 Kellye Hodges 1 Jenni-Sue Hoepper 1 Steph Hancock 1 Goals: Ali Brigginshaw 2 Jenni-Sue Hoepper 1 |
Report HT 16–0 |
Tries: 1 Teina Clark 1 Kezie Apps Goals: 1 Maddie Studdon |
2015
edit27 June 2015
|
| New South Wales Women
|
4 – 4 | Queensland Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Isabelle Kelly 1 |
Report HT 0–4 |
Tries: 1 Chelsea Baker |
2016
edit23 July 2016
|
| New South Wales Women
|
8 – 4 | Queensland Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Simaima Taufa 1 Goals: Maddie Studdon 2 |
Report HT 0–0 |
Tries: 1 Ali Brigginshaw |
Notes:
- This was the first time New South Wales won the trophy in all women's interstate challenge history.
2017
edit23 July 2017
|
| New South Wales Women
|
22 – 6 | Queensland Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Jessica Sergis 3 Corban McGregor 1 Vanessa Foliaki 1 Goals: Caitlin Moran 1 |
Report QRL Annual Report HT 10–6 |
Tries: 1 Jenni-Sue Hoepper Goals: 1 Chelsea Baker |
2018
edit22 June 2018
|
| New South Wales Women
|
16 – 10 | Queensland Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Isabelle Kelly (7', 54') 2 Nakia Davis-Welsh (36') 1 Goals: Maddie Studdon 2/3 (9', 55') |
Report Highlights HT 6–6 |
Tries: 2 (12', 45') Karina Brown Goals: 1/2 Chelsea Baker (13') |
North Sydney Oval, Sydney
Player of the Match: Isabelle KellyAttendance: 6,824 Referee: Jon Stone Peter Gough (Assistant) |
Notes:
- First official Women's State of Origin match.
2019
edit21 June 2019
|
| New South Wales Women
|
14 – 4 | Queensland Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Jessica Sergis 1 Shakiah Tungai 1 Maddie Studdon 1 Goals: Kirra Dibb 1 |
Report Highlights HT 0–4 |
Tries: 1 Tazmin Gray Goals: nil |
North Sydney Oval, Sydney
Player of the Match: Maddie StuddonAttendance: 10,300 Referee: Belinda Sharpe |
2020
edit13 November 2020
7:45 PM |
| Queensland Women
|
24 – 18 | New South Wales Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Tamika Upton 2 Tarryn Aiken 1 Steph Hancock 1 Goals: Lauren Brown 4 |
Report Highlights HT 6–6 |
Tries: 1 Kezie Apps 1 Tiana Penitani 1 Filomina Hanisi 1 Botille Vette-Welsh Goals: 1 Melanie Howard |
2021
edit25 June 2021
7:45 PM |
| Queensland Women
|
8 – 6 | New South Wales Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Destiny Brill 1 Goals: Lauren Brown 2 |
Report Highlights HT 6–4 |
Tries: 1 Isabelle Kelly Goals: 1 Maddie Studdon |
2022
edit24 June 2022
7:45 PM |
| New South Wales
|
20 – 14 | Queensland
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 3 Emma Tonegato (13') 1 Kirra Dibb (15') 1 Isabelle Kelly (67') 1 Goals: Rachael Pearson 4/5 (14', 17', 27', 41') |
HT 14–10 Highlights Match Stats (NRL) Reports[14] |
Tries: 3 1 (8') Destiny Brill 1 (21') Tarryn Aiken 1 (56') Evania Pelite Goals: 1 1/2 Ali Brigginshaw (22') 0/2 Lauren Brown |
GIO Stadium, Canberra
Attendance: 11,321 Referee: Belinda Sharpe Player of the Match: Isabelle Kelly (Nellie Doherty Medal) |
2023
editThe two-match series was decided — as the teams won one match each — on aggregate, with Queensland winning 32–28.[15]
Game 1
edit1 June 2023
7:45 PM |
| Queensland
|
18 – 10 | New South Wales
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 4 Julia Robinson (7', 45') 2 Tazmin Gray (32') 1 Emily Bass (40') 1 Goals: 1 Zahara Temara 1/4 (34') |
HT 10–6 Highlights Match Stats (NRL) Reports[16][17] |
Tries: 2 1 (16') Jessica Sergis 1 (50') Jaime Chapman Goals: 1 1/2 Jesse Southwell (18') |
CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
Attendance: 12,972 Referee: Adam Gee Player of the Match: Keilee Joseph (Nellie Doherty Medal) |
Game 2
edit22 June 2023
7:45 PM |
| New South Wales
|
18 – 14 | Queensland
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 3 Tiana Penitani (3', 40') 2 Yasmin Clydsdale (68' penalty try) 1 Goals: 3 Jesse Southwell 3/5 (9', 45', 69') |
HT 6-14 Highlights Match Stats (NRL) Reports [18][19][20] |
Tries: 3 1 (17') Tamika Upton 1 (25') Emily Bass 1 (27') Tarryn Aiken Goals: 1 1/3 Zahara Temara (29') |
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Attendance: 18,275 Referee: Belinda Sharpe Player of the Match: Tazmin Gray (Nellie Doherty Medal) |
2024
editGame 1
edit16 May 2024
7:45 PM |
| New South Wales
|
22 – 12 | Queensland
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 3 Emma Tonegato (5') 1 Jaime Chapman (9') 1 Caitlan Johnston (64') 1 Goals: 5 Rachael Pearson 5/5 (6', 10', 18', 38, 65') |
HT 14-0 Highlights Match Stats (NRL) Reports [21][22] |
Tries: 2 1 (53') Tamika Upton 1 (67') Emily Bass Goals: 2 2/2 Zahara Temara (53', 68') |
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 25,492 Referee: Kasey Badger Player of the Match: Yasmin Clydsdale |
Game 2
editThursday, 6 June 2024
7:45 PM |
| Queensland
|
11 – 10 | New South Wales
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 2 Shenae Ciesiolka (54') 1 Tarryn Aiken (61')1 Goals: 1 Lauren Brown 1/2 (63') Field Goals: 1 Lauren Brown 1 (68') |
1st: 6–0 2nd: 4–11 Highlights Match Stats (NRL) Reports [23][24][25] |
Tries: 2 1 (24') Keeley Davis 1 (58') Tiana Penitani Goals: 1 1/2 Rachael Pearson (25') |
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Attendance: 25,782 Referee: Belinda Sharpe Player of the Match: Shannon Mato |
Game 3
editThursday, 27 June 2024
7:45 PM |
| Queensland
|
22 – 6 | New South Wales
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 3 Evania Pelite (1') 1 Julia Robinson (29') 1 Tazmin Rapana (67') 1 Goals: 5 Lauren Brown 4/4 (3', 8' pen, 31', 68') Romy Teitzel 1/1 (38' pen) |
1st: 14–0 2nd: 8–6 Highlights Match Stats (NRL) Reports [26][27] |
Tries: 1 1 (58') Jaime Chapman Goals: 1 Rachael Pearson 1/1 (59') |
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Attendance: 22,819 Referee: Belinda Sharpe Player of the Match: Evania Pelite[28] Nellie Doherty Medal for Player of the Series: Shannon Mato[29] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "NSW Women's Interstate Challenge side named". 22 June 2015.
- ^ "Women's Interstate Challenge ends in draw". 27 June 2015.
- ^ "NSW Women's Interstate Team Announced". 18 July 2016.
- ^ "Westpac NSW Sky Blues name two debutants for Game One". NSWRL. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "NSW Sky Blues unchanged for Origin decider". NSWRL. 18 Jun 2024. Retrieved 18 Jun 2024.
- ^ Newton, Alicia (20 Jun 2022). "Dibb recalled as Hilder finalises NSW team". NRL. Retrieved 20 Jun 2022.
- ^ Edwards, Colleen (20 Nov 2020). "A Queensland legacy is born – the first women's Interstate Challenge game". QRL. Retrieved 21 Mar 2021.
- ^ "Australian Womens Rugby League". Australian Rugby League 2002 Annual Report. 19. Sydney: Australian Rugby League: 28. 2002.
- ^ "State Of Origin 2 Helps Decide World Cup Squad". Our Footy Team Archives. 4 Sep 2008. Retrieved 21 Mar 2021.
- ^ Yvette Downey (2009). "Australian Women's League Report". Australian Rugby Football League Annual Report. 26: 22–23.
- ^ "Women Brace For Historic Clash". NRL.com. 8 Dec 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ Lee, Matthew (15 Sep 2010). "Gympie referee scores top job". Gympie Times.
- ^ "Qld women power to 13th Cup victory". Queensland Times. 26 May 2011. p. 29.
- ^ Robertson, Josh (24 Jun 2022). "Kelly shines as Blues regain Origin dominance". League Unlimited. Retrieved 26 Jun 2022.
- ^ Newton, Alicia (26 May 2022). "Points aggregate to determine Origin winner if series drawn". NRL. Retrieved 1 Jun 2023.
- ^ Rosser, Corey (1 Jun 2023). "Queensland backs fire in opening win". NRL. Retrieved 2 Jun 2023.
- ^ Huxtable, Adam (1 Jun 2023). "Maroons triumph to take an 8-point lead in the first leg of Women's State of Origin". League Unlimited. Retrieved 2 Jun 2023.
- ^ Davies, Justin (22 Jun 2023). "Blues late surge not enough for shield". League Unlimited. Retrieved 24 Jun 2023.
- ^ "Sky Blues fight back for Game Two win despite series defeat". NSWRL. 22 Jun 2023. Retrieved 24 Jun 2023.
- ^ Rosser, Corey (22 Jun 2023). "Maroons lose thrilling Game Two but claim series victory". QRL. Retrieved 24 Jun 2023.
- ^ Lenehan, Michael (16 May 2024). "Early blitz sets up Sky Blues' Game One triumph". NRL. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ Robertson, Josh (16 May 2024). "Blues take first blood in front of record crowd in Brisbane". League Unlimited. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ Lenehan, Martin (6 Jun 2024). "Brown slots late winner as Maroons keep Origin series alive". NRL. Retrieved 6 Jun 2024.
- ^ Hollis, Kelly (6 Jun 2024). "Queensland steal a last minute win to take the first three-game Women's State of Origin series to a decider". League Unlimited. Retrieved 6 Jun 2024.
- ^ Honeysett, Stuart (6 Jun 2024). "Women's Origin set for decider as Sky Blues suffer one-point loss". NSWRL. Retrieved 6 Jun 2024.
- ^ Robertson, Josh (27 Jun 2024). "Queensland reign supreme again with impressive win over poor NSW". League Unlimited. Retrieved 27 Jun 2024.
- ^ Rosser, Corey (27 Jun 2024). "Maroons power past Sky Blues for historic series victory". NRL. Retrieved 27 Jun 2024.
- ^ "Player of the Match: Evania Pelite". NRL. 27 Jun 2024. Retrieved 27 Jun 2024.
- ^ Rosser, Corey (27 Jun 2024). "Mato claims 2024 Nellie Doherty Medal". NRL. Retrieved 27 Jun 2024.