Marauding Blues hold off luckless Maroons to take Women’s Origin series lead

• NSW defeat Queensland 11-6 in 2026 State of Origin Game 1

• Jesse Southwell field goal helps hosts recover half-time deficit

In the end, it had to be Jesse Southwell. The Blues halfback may have chosen to leave her home town club Newcastle for Brisbane this year, but in familiar surrounds at McDonald Jones Stadium in front of 20,000 fans on Thursday it was her who proved coolest as New South Wales won the opening Women’s State of Origin game, 11-6.

Her field goal with seven minutes to go stole the glory from a valiant Queensland, who went close to the winning try before Blues centre Jess Sergis scored a sealer on the whistle.