Sharks Ellie Johnston and Tiana Penitani Gray played leading roles in the Blues win, while the kicking game of Chantay Kiria Ratu kept the Queenslanders in the game in a closely fought opening game of the women’s Origin Series.
Johnson crashed over for the first try of the night for NSW, while Penitani Gray proved to be a handful in a 70-minute performance in the unfamiliar position of back row in an 11-6 victory for the Blues.
Queensland was first on the board in taking an early 6-0 lead, and it took a typical barnstorming run from Johnston for the Blues to draw level, her try adjacent to the uprights seeing NSW level the scores after being unable to cross the line in the opening half.
A Jesse Southwell field goal inside the final 10 minutes of the match put NSW ahead for the first time, before Penitani Gray threw the last pass in the closing moments for the Jess Sergis try which completed the scoring.
Johnston would run for 139 metres on the night, 57 of those post contact, while also making 25 tackles, with Penitani Gray strong on the right edge with 14 hit ups and 31 tackles.
On the other side of the field, Origin debutant Kiria Ratu kicked for a game high 288 metres in an impressive performance in the Maroon jersey.
Game one was played at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, with game two scheduled for Thursday, May 14 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
