41 mins: Now it’s the Blues who have to be strong on defence. they are up to the challenge as well, keeping the Maroons away from the line. The Blues make an error midway through their attacking set and the Maroons get another shot.
39 mins: The Maroons have to defend hard. they do so, putting plenty of pressure on the Blues and forcing an error a few metres out from the line. They nearly lose the ball after the scrum, but manage to hang on. then get a penalty to really spark them into action.
37 mins: Kezie Apps takes the ball from the kick off to get the half started for the Blues. It’s a solid, but uneventful first set until Southwell puts up a bomb and the Maroons let it bounce. Lolesio picks it up on the sideline and she’s tackled into touch to give the ball back to the Blues.
The teams are back on the field and we’re ready for the second half to begin!
A very exciting first half, with the Blues dominating early, getting the best of the field position. finding the line twice. But once Upton made that huge break up the sideline, it seemed to spur the Maroons into action. from that point on, they dominated the field position and possession, getting a hard-fought try with five minutes left in the half. The Blues could have been further ahead if they had managed to convert their two tries,. the try scorers didn’t make it easy on Southwell. Brown’s accurate goal kicking could give the Maroons the edge. so the Blues will want to make sure they get more tries on the board.
It’s sure to be a fascinating second half, so go. grab some water and rehydrate and we’ll be back into the action very soon!
34 mins: Things are going the Maroons’ way right now, as they get a penalty early in the set. continue their push towards the try line. In the blink of an eye they’re at the Blues’ 10m line.
It’s not an easy conversion by any means,. Brown slots it between the uprights to close the gap to two points.
Queensland keep building the pressure on the Blues. eventually a quick play the ball and pass from Upton out of dummy half puts Owen over the line and Queensland are on the board.
30 mins: Chapman is penalised a few metres out, giving Queensland another six tackles inside the 10. The NSW defence is strong, but Queensland forces a line drop out with a smart grubber kick.
28 mins: Queensland get their first use of the football in quite some time. they play a solid, but cautious but solid set. However Kiria-Ratu puts up a huge, spiralling kick at the end of the set. Church can’t hold on to it, giving Queensland the ball in great position.
26 mins: Southwell has another tough conversion attempt – she gets closer to this one,. can’t quite knock it over. The Maroons are penalised for a high tackle at the start of the set and the Blues march down field. They lose the ball on the last tackle however.
After being camped out in the Maroons 20 for some time, the Blues finally manage to find some grass over the line. Nizza throws a dummy and dives over from dummy half to score.
22 mins: Sharpe rules that Kernick knocks the ball into a Queensland defender, but the Blues immediately challenge. the bunker finds that she knocked it back, before Queensland then knocked it on, so the Blues get another set. Butler then gets over the line, but she is also held up. It’s all happening! Upton dives on a Southwell grubber in goal at the end of the set. there’ll be a line drop out.
20 mins: The Maroons drop the ball from the kick and NSW are again in good position. They move it to the other side of the field and Kelleher gets over the line, but is held up.
18 mins: A good set from the Blues ends with a good kick, but Upton picks it up. sprints along the sideline, making a huge amount of ground before being brought down by Southwell, who attempts to drag her into touch. The Maroons make it all the way to the Blues’ line,. they drop the ball attempting to get over the line.
16 mins: Another great kick from Southwell splits the Maroons and allows the Blues to set up their defence. Upton nearly makes a line break, but as the defenders bring her down, she loses the ball. the Blues get the ball inside the Maroons’ half.
14 mins: The Blues almost immediately lose the ball and the Maroons have seven tackles inside the Blues 10. Upton very nearly crashes over, but a desperate Blues defensive effort holds her up. They try to swing it wide, but Robinson can’t hold on to the ball and it flies into touch. The Blues try to keep the momentum of their strong defensive set as they push down field.
12 mins: Southwell finishes the set with a well-placed kick that lands between the fullback. winger, but it bounces safely into touch and the Maroons start their set on the 30m line. There’s a half break through the line twice during the set. a good high kick to finish the set, but Fressard gets right underneath it.
10 mins: Southwell misses the conversion attempt from the sideline, so it’s just a four-point lead to the Blues. The Maroons put up a great kick off, but it’s fielded well by the Blues. they make their way down field.
The Blues play a good set following the penalty, getting close to the line,. lose the ball over the sideline while attempting to swing the ball out wide. However, Robinson drops the ball for the Maroons immediately and give the Blues a scrum feed 10m out. The Blues this time manage to get their set play together. get the ball out wide to Chapman who fives over the line.
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6 mins: The Maroons finish their set with a bomb. they get players underneath it, but they can only knock it on and the Blues pick it up and play the advantage. Kernick makes a nice half break through the line. Kelleher puts up a nice kick and the Maroons are penalised for not attempting a tackle.
4 mins: The Maroons put in a solid defensive effort. the Blues can’t complete the set, following an ungenerous knock on call from referee Belinda Sharpe. The Maroons start well from the scrum and drive down the field with a lot of intent.
2 mins: A big first collision, as is traditional in State of Origin. the Maroons make their way down the field. They put up an early kick on the fourth tackle, trying to catch the Blues off guard with the wet ball,. Church is up to the challenge. Kelly draws a penalty early in the set and the Blues get some assistance to make ground down the field.
The Blues kick off and we are under way!
Ashley Ruska performs the Welcome to Country and the Australian Girls’ Choir sing the national anthem tonight.
The players are running out on the field now – ready for the Welcome to Country and anthem. The Blues get a very hostile welcome, while a huge cheer erupts as the Maroons run out.
There’s a bit of rain around at Suncorp,. Maroons captain Tamika Upton says her team is prepared for the conditions. The Blues have warned Upton they will be testing her under the high ball with plenty of bombs to be put up throughout this game. The wet conditions will make that even more challenging,. Upton is a quality player who won’t be intimidated by this game plan.
If you want a refresher on Game 1 before we get underway tonight, you’re in luck! Jack Snape’s match report will take you right back to that fateful night in Newcastle just two short weeks ago.
A couple of changes to those teams since Game 1. Tiana Penitani is out for the Blues and has been replaced in the 17 by Rima Butler. For the Maroons, Jasmine Peters has come in to replace Phoenix-Rain Hippi, who sustained a hamstring injury in Newcastle.
4. Isabelle Kelly (c)
15. Kennedy Cherrington
6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu
10. Jessika Elliston
17. Shenae Ciesiolka
Hello and welcome to Game 2 of the women’s State of Origin series! Last time it was the Blues with the win in a very tight match, breaking their run of losses in Newcastle. overcoming an early setback when the Maroons scored in the opening minutes of the match.
It was a victory the Blues will be happy with, but it was not dominant by any means. coming into the hostile environment of Suncorp Stadium, they will be wary of a resurgent Maroons team. However. Suncorp has not been a happy hunting ground for the Maroons in the past – they have not won a game there since playing under the State of Origin banner. They will be hoping this is the year for breaking home game loss streaks!
This match features as part of Magic Round. so there will be plenty of excitement around up in Brisbane, with a festival of rugby league happening all weekend. I’d expect to see a good crowd in, which will be very pro-Queensland.
There are a few team changes to discuss, so let’s get into it!
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