Queensland women's rugby league team
| ||||||
| Team information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Maroons | |||||
| Governing body | Queensland Rugby League | |||||
| Head coach | Tahnee Norris | |||||
| Captain | Ali Brigginshaw | |||||
| Most caps | (20)[1] | |||||
| Home stadium | Sunshine Coast Stadium (12,000) | |||||
| Team results | ||||||
| First game | ||||||
 Queensland 18–16 New South Wales  (ANZ Stadium, Brisbane; 4 July 1999) | ||||||
| Biggest win | ||||||
| Queensland 46–4 New South Wales (Kougari Oval, Brisbane; 9 August 2008) | ||||||
| Biggest defeat | ||||||
| New South Wales 22–6 Queensland (WIN Stadium, Wollongong; 23 July 2017) | ||||||
The Queensland women's rugby league team represents the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football. Nicknamed the "Maroons", after the colour of their jersey, the team compete in the annual Women's State of Origin game against arch-rivals New South Wales. Coached by Jason Hetherington and captained by Ali Brigginshaw, the team is administered by the Queensland Rugby League.
Until 2017, the team competed in the Women's Interstate Challenge before the game was rebranded as State of Origin in 2018.[2] From 1999 to 2015, the Maroons went on an unprecedented 17-year undefeated streak.[3]
History[]
In 1999, Queensland played New South Wales for the first time at Brisbane's ANZ Stadium, with the Maroons' winning 18–16.[4] The win started an undefeated streak that would last for 17 years. The team were originally nicknamed the "Brolgas".[5][6]
In 2015, Queensland failed to defeat New South Wales for the first time, drawing with them 4–all at Townsville's 1300SMILES Stadium.[7]
In 2016, New South Wales defeated Queensland for the first time, winning 8–4 at Cbus Super Stadium.[8]
In 2018, the Women's Interstate Challenge was rebranded as State of Origin.[9] On 22 June 2018, New South Wales won the first game under the State of Origin banner, defeating Queensland 16–10 at North Sydney Oval.[10] In 2020, Queensland won their first game under the Origin banner, defeating New South Wales 24–18.[11]
On 23 March 2021, Tahnee Norris, who played 13 interstate games for Queensland, was announced as new head coach of the side.[12]
Players[]
Prior to 2019, the Queensland and New South Wales teams were largely selected under residency rules, meaning a number of players represented both states. Tahnee Norris, who captained Queensland, and Natalie Dwyer, both represented New South Wales before moving to Queensland, while Tarah Westera represented Queensland before moving south.[13]
In 2019, the eligibility rules were revised to be more inline with the men's State of Origin rules.[14] The residency rule was removed, which saw New Zealand representatives Maitua Feterika (Queensland) and Nita Maynard (New South Wales) ruled ineligible.[15] Rona Peters was also ruled ineligible as she had previously represented New Zealand. This was later overturned and she was given special dispensation, as she had retired from international rugby league in 2015, before she first represented Queensland in 2016.[16]
Current squad[]
On 14 June 2021, the QRL announced a 19-player squad for their fixture against New South Wales on 25 June 2021 at Sunshine Coast Stadium.[17] Romy Teitzel and Natassja Purontakanen did not play in the match. The table below includes appearances and points scored in the 2021 match.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Pts | NRLW Club | QRLW Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback | Tamika Upton | 17 March 1997 | 2 | 8 |  Brisbane Broncos |
 Burleigh Bears
|
| Wing | Shenae Ciesiolka | 7 August 1997 | 2 | 0 | Brisbane Broncos |
 Valleys Diehards
|
| Centre | Lauren Brown | 18 April 1995 | 2 | 12 | Brisbane Broncos |
Burleigh Bears
|
| Centre | Julia Robinson | 1 June 1998 | 2 | 0 | Brisbane Broncos |
 West Brisbane Panthers
|
| Wing | Karina Brown | 9 March 1989 | 9 | 12 |  New Zealand Warriors |
Burleigh Bears
|
| Five-eighth | Tarryn Aiken | 14 July 1999 | 2 | 4 | Brisbane Broncos |
 Tweed Seagulls
|
| Halfback | Zahara Temara | 4 July 1997 | 4 | 0 |  Sydney Roosters |
Burleigh Bears
|
| Prop | Chelsea Lenarduzzi | 26 November 1995 | 4 | 0 | Brisbane Broncos |
Burleigh Bears
|
| Hooker | Destiny Brill | 1 | 4 |  Yet to play NRLW |
Valleys Diehards
| |
| Prop | Shannon Mato | 21 August 1998 | 2 | 0 | Brisbane Broncos |
 North Sydney Bears
|
| Second-row | Tazmin Gray | 4 August 1995 | 6 | 4 | New Zealand Warriors |
Burleigh Bears
|
| Second-row | Tiana Raftstrand-Smith | 1 | 0 | Yet to play NRLW |
Burleigh Bears
| |
| Lock | Ali Brigginshaw | 1 December 1989 | 10 | 8 | Brisbane Broncos |
Valleys Diehards
|
| Second-row | Shaniah Power | 20 March 1997 | 2 | 0 | New Zealand Warriors |
 North Queensland Gold Stars
|
| Prop | Brianna Clark | 25 May 1995 | 1 | 0 | New Zealand Warriors |
Valleys Diehards
|
| Second-row | Tallisha Harden | 21 July 1992 | 4 | 0 | Brisbane Broncos |
Burleigh Bears
|
| Prop | Rona Peters | 21 May 1988 | 6 | 0 | 2019 Brisbane Broncos |
Tweed Seagulls
|
| Fullback | Romy Teitzel | 23 February 1999 | 0 | 0 | Brisbane Broncos |
North Queensland Gold Stars
|
| Second-row | Natassja Purontakanen | 29 May 1992 | 0 | 0 | Yet to play NRLW |
Valleys Diehards
|
Coaches[]
Accurate records were not kept in early years of the Women's Interstate Challenge by either the QRL or the NSWRL. The following list of coaches is therefore incomplete.[10]
| Coach | Years | Games | Wins | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Ashton | 1999 | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Karen Stuart | 2007 | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Gordon Robson | 2008 | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| Steve Belsham | 2010–2011 | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| Beth Harlow | 2012 | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Brad Donald | 2013–2016 | 4 | 2 | 50% |
| Adrian Vowles | 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Jason Hetherington | 2018–2020 | 1 | 2 | 33% |
| Tahnee Norris | 2021 | 1 | 1 | 100% |
Results[]
2006[]
Played as a curtain raiser to the Round 21 NRL game between the Brisbane Broncos and Wests Tigers.
30 July 2006
|
| Queensland
|
40 – 24 | New South Wales
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Steph Hancock 2 Leah Williams 2 Teresa Anderson 1 1 Megan Spicer 1 Goals Neena Fraser 4 Steph Hancock 1 Megan Spicer 1 |
Report | Tries 1 Teina Clark 1 Dahlia Tahu 1 Nadine Schmidt 1 Johnnie Tukwaho Goals 4 Teina Clark |
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
|
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2007[]
Played as a curtain raiser to the Round 22 NRL game between the Penrith Panthers and North Queensland Cowboys.
13 August 2007
|
| New South Wales
|
16 – 38 | Queensland
|
|---|---|---|
| Report | Tries 2 Rachele Whelan 1 Bianca Ambrum 1 Teresa Anderson 1 Kellie Batchelor 1 Suzanne Johnson 1 Leah Williams Goals 5 Kellie Batchelor |
CUA Stadium, Penrith
|
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2008[]
The Woman's Interstate Challenge was played as a two-game series in 2008.
Game 1[]
8 July 2008
|
| New South Wales
|
6 – 8 | Queensland
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Jessica Palmer 1 Goals Teina Clark 1 |
Report | Tries 1 Steph Hancock 1 Tegan Rolfe |
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Game 2[]
9 August 2008
|
| Queensland
|
46 – 4 | New South Wales
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Bianca Ambrum 3 Suzanne Johnson 2 Tarah Westera 2 Tegan Rolfe 1 Renae Kunst 1 Steph Hancock 1 Goals Steph Hancock 3 |
Report Scores[18] |
Tries 1 Lisa Fiaola |
2009[]
Played as a curtain raiser to the Round 19 NRL game between the Penrith Panthers and Canberra Raiders.
18 July 2009
|
| New South Wales
|
14 – 20 | Queensland
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Poihaera Clark 1 Natalie Levy 1 Jessica Palmer 1 Goals Renee Gloss 1 |
Report | Tries 1 Erin Elliott 1 Tahnee Norris 1 Nive Moefaauo 1 Tarah Westera Goals 1 Natalie Dwyer 1 Tegan Rolfe |
CUA Stadium, Penrith
|
2010[]
26 June 2010
|
| Queensland
|
36 – 6 | New South Wales
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Latisha Gary 2 Tegan Rolfe 2 Karina Brown 1 Natalie Dwyer 1 Suzanne Johnson 1 Goals Natalie Dwyer 4 |
Report | Tries 1 Kylie Hilder Goals 1 Teina Clark |
Albert Park, Gympie
Player of the Match: Latisha Gary |
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2011[]
Played as a curtain raiser to Game I of the 2011 State of Origin series.
25 May 2011
|
| Queensland
|
26 – 0 | New South Wales
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Bianca Ambrum 1 Natasha Baggow 1 Natalie Dwyer 1 Natalie Gala 1 Steph Hancock 1 1 Goals Natalie Dwyer 1 |
Report |
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
|
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2012[]
Played as a curtain raiser to the Round 16 NRL game between the Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels.
23 June 2012
|
| New South Wales
|
10 – 34 | Queensland
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Sam Bremner 1 Tarah Westera 1 Goals Maddie Studdon 1 |
Report | Tries 4 Bianca Ambrum 2 Natalie Dwyer 1 Karina Brown 1 Goals 1 Amber Saltner |
| |||||||||||||||||||
2013[]
7 April 2013
|
| Queensland
|
30 – 12 | New South Wales
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Bianca Ambrum 1 Jo Barrett 1 Steph Hancock 1 Renae Kunst 1 Tahnee Norris 1 Amber Saltner 1 Goals Amber Saltner 3 |
Report | Tries 2 Tegan Chandler Goals 2 Margaret Watson |
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2014[]
19 July 2014
|
| New South Wales
|
10 – 26 | Queensland
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Kezie Apps 1 Teina Clark 1 Goals Maddie Studdon 3 |
Report | Tries 1 Steph Hancock 1 Kellye Hodges 1 1 Renae Kunst 1 Deanna Turner Goals 2 Ali Brigginshaw 1 |
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2015[]
Played as a curtain raiser to the Round 16 NRL game between the North Queensland Cowboys and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
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2016[]
Played as a curtain raiser to the Round 20 NRL game between the Gold Coast Titans and Parramatta Eels.
23 July 2016
|
| Queensland
|
4 – 8 | New South Wales
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Ali Brigginshaw 1 |
Report | Tries 1 Simaima Taufa 2 Maddie Studdon |
| |||||||||||||||||||
2017[]
Played as a curtain raiser to the Round 20 NRL game between the St George Illawarra Dragons and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
23 July 2017
|
| New South Wales
|
22 – 6 | Queensland
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Jessica Sergis 3 Vanessa Foliaki 1 Corban McGregor 1 Caitlin Moran 1 |
Report | Tries 1 1 Chelsea Baker |
| |||||||||||||||||||
2018[]
The first "official" State of Origin game.
22 June 2018
|
| New South Wales
|
16 – 10 | Queensland
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Isabelle Kelly 2 Nakia Davis-Welsh 1 Maddie Studdon 2 |
Report Highlights |
Tries 1 Karina Brown 1 Chelsea Baker |
| |||||||||||||||||||
2019[]
21 June 2019
|
| New South Wales
|
14 – 4 | Queensland
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries Jessica Sergis 1 Maddie Studdon 1 Shakiah Tungai 1 Kirra Dibb 1 |
Report Highlights |
Tries 1 Tazmin Gray |
| |||||||||||||||||||
2020[]
13 November 2020
7:45 PM |
| Queensland Women
|
24 – 18 | New South Wales Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Tamika Upton 2 Tarryn Aiken 1 Steph Hancock 1 Goals: Lauren Brown 4 |
Report Highlights HT 6-6 |
Tries: 1 Kezie Apps 1 Tiana Penitani 1 Filomina Hanisi 1 Botille Vette-Welsh Goals: 1 Melanie Howard |
2021[]
25 June 2021
7:45 PM |
| Queensland Women
|
8 – 6 | New South Wales Women
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Destiny Brill 1 Goals: Lauren Brown 2 |
Report Highlights HT 6-4 |
Tries: 1 Isabelle Kelly Goals: 1 Maddie Studdon |
See also[]
- Queensland Residents rugby league team
- Queensland under-20 rugby league team
- Queensland under-18 rugby league team
- Queensland under-16 rugby league team
- Queensland Women's rugby league team
References[]
- ^ "'You can't say no to a QLD jersey'". QRL. 17 July 2013.
- ^ "Shift to State of Origin helps raise profile of women's rugby league". The Guardian. 20 June 2018.
- ^ "Women's teams named for Origin". NRL. 18 July 2016.
- ^ "Maroons look to end Blues winning streak". ABC. 20 June 2019.
- ^ "Ballinger calls time on her Queensland career". QRL. 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Women In League". Our Footy Team. 26 August 2009.
- ^ "Women's Interstate Challenge ends in draw". NRL. 27 June 2015.
- ^ "NSW women beat Queensland at last". NRL. 23 July 2016.
- ^ "Sims, Taufa launch 2018 Womens Origin". NSWRL. 22 May 2018.
- ^ a b "NSW down Queensland to win inaugural women's State of Origin". NRL. 22 June 2018.
- ^ "Queensland finally break NSW stranglehold as Tamika Upton proves inspirational". The Courier Mail. 13 November 2020.
- ^ "Norris to guide Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons". QRL. 23 March 2021.
- ^ "'It's the feeling of Origin': clamour for women's State of Origin". The Guardian. 18 July 2017.
- ^ "Caslick, Pelite get green light to play for Maroons in Origin". NRL. 7 October 2020.
- ^ "New eligibility rules for Women's State of Origin". QRL. 18 April 2019.
- ^ "Four debutantes named for Maroons women's Origin". NRL. 6 June 2019.
- ^ Edwards, Colleen (14 June 2021). "Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons squad named". QRL. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "State Of Origin 2 Helps Decide World Cup Squad". Our Footy Team Archives. 4 September 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
External links[]
| Federation | |
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| Representative Teams |
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| NRL clubs |
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| Major Competitions |
Former Top-Flight Competition: Brisbane Rugby League premiership
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| Northern Division | |
| Central Division |
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| South-East Division |
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- Queensland rugby league team
- Rugby League State of Origin
- Rugby league representative teams in Queensland
- Women's rugby league teams in Australia