Queensland Defeats New South Wales to Avoid Women’s State of Origin Whitewash

In the 2025 Women's State of Origin Series, New South Wales initially dominated by winning the first two games and securing the Shield, with a commanding 18-6 victory in the opening match of the men's State of Origin at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium. However, Queensland avoided a series whitewash in the women's series by securing a thrilling 18-14 win in Game 3, thanks to a late try by Chelsea Lenarduzzi, who was instrumental in breaking through the Blues' defense despite being sin-binned in the final moments. Key contributors for Queensland included Makenzie Weale, Romy Teitzel, and Lauren Brown, who all scored tries to help the Maroons salvage pride after earlier heavy defeats. The win relieved pressure on Queensland's coach Tahnee Norris and raised questions about the future of veteran captain Ali Brigginshaw. New South Wales, while having taken a strong lead in the series, were challenged by Queensland's physical second-half surge, highlighting the rivalry's intensity and setting the stage for a competitive continuation of the series. Both sides displayed moments of brilliance and errors, underscoring the competitive nature of this high-stakes rivalry.