Key events
10 mins: It’s one-way traffic early but the Blues have yet to make it count. Off the back of a 20m scrum they dart to the right without any luck, then they cut left through Kernick, who tries to wrestle and spin her way over but in the process loses control of the ball and the Maroons can release the pressure.
8 mins: Destiny Mino-Sinapati does well under another high ball, this time from Kelleher, after NSW ate up the CBUS Super turf before lacking inspiration in the red zone. They’re gifted another golden opportunity though when Apps flattens Peters and dislodges the footy.
6 mins: Southwell shows and goes into the 20m zone. Higgins, Sergis, and Kelleher are all busy as the Blues inch towards the line, inviting Church and Apps to crash over, but Queensland are resolute in defence and keep NSW out as they run it on the last tackle. Queensland get nowhere coming out of defence though with Kiria-Ratu kicking on tackle four again to try and turn the visitors around.
4 mins: Queensland execute a settling drive and kick high to Fressard who watches the ball closely into her arms in the testing conditions. The Blues continue to assert themselves territorially and Southwell kicks to the left corner to keep the Maroons pinned. And that pressure tells when Joseph takes her eye off the ball accepting a routine pass on her 30m line to gift NSW an attacking platform.
2 mins: Brill takes the night’s first hit-up but she’s met firmly by the NSW defence who continue their strong work and induce the Maroons to kick on tackle four. By the third tackle the Blues are over halfway and going through hands to the left before a pass goes to ground and they have to reset through the middle with Meakes and then Apps. A bomb goes up on the last but Destiny Mino-Sinapati is confident beneath it with her first test.
Kick-off!
The women’s State of Origin finale is under way…
A much more traditional rendition of the national anthem than we heard last night precedes both teams crouching into tight huddles for the final rev ups.
The crowd looks to be the most modest of the series so far, unsurprising considering the weather and the absence of competitive jeopardy.
Out jog the visitors in their sky and navy blue uniforms, led by the impressive Isabelle Kelly. And they’re soon joined by the Maroons with the host broadcaster soon training their attention on debutant fullback Destiny Mino-Sinapati.
Conditions are not ideal, with southern Queensland seeing plenty of wind and rain today, and thunderstorms a possibility throughout the night.
Belinda Sharpe will referee her eighth Origin fixture in a row. She must be praying she avoids the drama that befell her male counterpart Ashley Klein last night in Sydney.
Please send me your emails and keep me company throughout the evening. The address is jonathan.howcroft.casual@guardian.co.uk.
NSW XIII
The Blues have the luxury of naming an unchanged team. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
1. Abbi Church, 2. Jaime Chapman, 3. Jessica Sergis, 4. Isabelle Kelly ©, 5. Jayme Fressard, 6. Jocelyn Kelleher, 7. Jesse Southwell, 8. Millie Elliott, 9. Olivia Higgins, 10. Ellie Johnston, 11. Kezie Apps, 12. Yasmin Meakes, 13. Olivia Kernick
Interchange: 14. Keeley Nizza, 15. Kennedy Cherrington, 16. Rima Butler, 17. Teagan Berry
Queensland XIII
The Maroons have been rocked by injuries to IRL Golden Boot holder Julia Robinson, living legend Tamika Upton, and starting forward Makenzie Weale. Destiny Mino-Sinapati will debut at fullback with Lillian Yarrow coming onto the interchange.
1. Destiny Mino-Sinapati, 2. Shenae Ciesiolka, 3. Rory Owen, 4. Ivana Lolesio, 5. Jasmine Peters, 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu, 7. Lauren Brown, 8. Otesa Pule, 9. Destiny Brill, 10. Jessika Elliston, 11. Sienna Lofipo, 12. Romy Teitzel, 13. Keilee Joseph
Interchange: 14. Emma Manzelmann, 15. Brianna Clark, 16. Lillian Yarrow. 17. Jada Ferguson.
Preamble
Jonathan Howcroft
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Women’s State of Origin Game 3. Kick-off between Queensland and New South Wales at Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium is scheduled for 7.45pm AEST.
There is only state pride at stake this evening as the Blues arrive with an unassailable 2-0 series lead following narrow victories in Newcastle and Brisbane. But before NSW receive the Origin shield in enemy territory Queensland will be desperate to avoid being the first team to be handed a bagel in the short history of the multi-game women’s Origin format.
“No one wants to be part of a clean sweep,” asserted Queensland coach Nathan Cross earlier this week, “and if I look at the first two games – and I’ve said it on record – game one, we missed a chance, but with 30 seconds to go, we were still a fighting chance, down by a point. Game two, 30 seconds to go, we nearly score in the corner and snatch it late. So, history will show we’re down 2-0, but it’s a struck match between both teams in both games, and we feel like we let ourselves down in game two. I feel like we beat ourselves.”
The unchanged Blues will be tough to beat however, with the Maroons looking to the incoming Destiny Mino-Sinapati to provide some spark from fullback. The debutant has the daunting task of replacing injured superstar Tamika Upton.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/may/28/womens-state-of-origin-2026-game-3-live-score-updates-queensland-qld-maroons-vs-nsw-blues-gold-coast
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