An unsavoury moment rocked the first half of the 2025 NRLW State of Origin Opener.
It came as New South Wales started on their road to State of Origin redemption, thrashing Queensland 32-12 in the women’s series opener to begin John Strange’s coaching tenure with a bang.
But New South Wales hooker Keeley Davis halted play just 16 minutes into the match, to accuse an opposition player of a shock eye-gouge.
In front of a record crowd of 26,022 fans, the Blues produced a marvellous second-half display, keeping the home side scoreless to take the lead in the series back home to the Allianz Stadium.
The Blues started the brighter, with Jess Sergis crossing over early on but a try from Sienna Lofipo pulled the scores level.
New halfback Jesse Southwell’s control of her left edge was game-defining, teeing Isabelle Kelly up for a try to bounce back and take the lead not long after.
Southwell, failed to convert the kick, but it was here that Davis and captain Kelly approached referee Belinda Sharpe over the alleged incident.
Sharpe was heard saying on the ref mic: ‘So you want to make a formal allegation?’
An unsavoury moment rocked the first half of the 2025 NRLW State of Origin Opener as NSW hooker Keeley Davis (centre) alleged an opposition player of an eye gouge
Referee Belinda Sharpe spoke to both Davis and captain Isabelle Kelly over the matter, putting the incident on report
The Blues took a 1-0 lead in the series after besting the Maroons at the Suncorp Stadium 32-12 on Thursday night
Davis pointed to her right eye and then to where the incident took place as they talked through the alleged gouge.
She did not state which opposition player had allegedly gouged her.
Sharpe then put the incident on report.
The footy star appeared to be OK following the incident, but was seen touching her eye and looking in some discomfort.
First-gamer Jayme Fressard scored twice down the left wing, Ellie Johnston scored the go-ahead try pummelling through Maroons in the second half before fullback Abbi Church sealed the result.
NSW will fancy their chances of clinching for the Origin shield for the first time since 2022 given they host the final two matches of the series.
Tiana Penitani Gray also risks the ire of the match review committee after pulling Tamika Upton’s hair as the Queensland fullback made a break late in the first half.
Penitani Gray had limited chances to shine on her much-discussed move to five-eighth as the majority of traffic went through Southwell’s left edge.
After Jess Sergis scored the opener down the right within four minutes, halfback Southwell had a hand in the Blues’ next three tries.
In her first Origin game since 2023, Southwell combined seamlessly with new captain Kelly and second-rower Yasmin Clydsdale, with the former crashing over before Fressard’s double.
Prop forward Johnston put the Blues on the path to victory when she burrowed over with 20 minutes to play and could have had a second, but was narrowly held up in the final 10 minutes.
Fellow debutant Church confirmed the victory later in that set as Southwell threw the last pass to help make it a four-score game.
Five-eighth Tarryn Aiken was Queensland’s best, sending up the bomb that helped Lofipo score the Maroons’ first before putting debutant Rory Owen over with a flat ball.
But the Maroons could be thankful the deficit was not larger with Southwell missing three conversion attempts.
One of eight Origin debutants across the two sides, Queensland’s Jasmine Peters suffered a game-ending head knock colliding with Sarah Togatuki just before the break.
But she is set to clear concussion protocols by the second game of the series in Sydney on May 15.
Kelly, meanwhile, was full of praise for her young side tonight. Despite the emphatic win, she urged her side not to get complacent following the match.
‘We know how deadly they [Queensland] are … I was really proud of our debutants,’ Kelly told ABC Sport.
‘Two games to go, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves.’
