Jesse Southwell showcased her exceptional maturity during Thursday’s women’s State of Origin opener, playing a pivotal role in New South Wales (NSW)’s victory, which marked a strong start to the series. After missing out on last year’s Origin selection, the 20-year-old made a significant impact under the guidance of new coach John Strange.
Her performance was widely acclaimed, particularly by Phil Gould, who praised Southwell’s ability to create multiple scoring opportunities for NSW. A critical misstep from Queensland’s Ali Brigginshaw early in the game saw Southwell immediately take charge, using her kicking skills to pressure the Maroons into defence. This relentless effort led to Jess Sergis scoring the first try as NSW exploited a gap on the edge.
Gould highlighted Southwell’s composure during the match, notably when she made a clever play to set up captain Isabelle Kelly for a try, demonstrating maturity beyond her years. “She was calm and composed, even with defence closing in,” Gould remarked, emphasising her ability to remain unflustered under pressure.
Southwell further contributed to NSW’s momentum by orchestrating successful plays, including another try for debutant Jayme Fressard. Although the game saw a moment of controversy with incidents of eye gouging and hair pulling, the focus remained on NSW’s dominant performance. As the match progressed, Queensland managed to narrow the scoreline just before half time, but injury concerns for players on the NSW side did not deter their performance.
Fressard’s second try was a highlight after a handling error from Queensland, while Ellie Johnston added to the scores with a try in the 50th minute, followed by Southwell successfully converting it. The Maroons struggled under mounting pressure, leading to numerous errors that the Blues capitalised on, strengthening their lead.
Gould praised the Blues’ relentless effort, noting how effectively Southwell controlled the game from the outset. The match culminated with Southwell assisting Abbi Church for another try, solidifying her exemplary performance that kept Queensland scoreless in the second half.
As the final whistle blew, NSW celebrated their 1-0 lead in the Origin series. Looking ahead, Queensland will aim to reclaim some pride in the upcoming match on May 15 at Allianz Stadium, where they seek to upset NSW on their home turf.