{"id":500704,"date":"2026-04-30T12:08:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T12:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=500704"},"modified":"2026-04-30T23:26:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T23:26:48","slug":"young-guns-field-goal-sergis-try-seal-victory-for-nsw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=500704","title":{"rendered":"Young gun's field goal, Sergis try seal victory for NSW"},"content":{"rendered":"

A\ufeff clutch field goal off the right boot of young gun Jesse Southwell<\/a> gave NSW<\/a> a one-point buffer in the dying minutes of the State of Origin<\/a> opener on Thursday night.<\/p>\n

And a Jessica Sergis<\/a> try on the stroke of full-time sweetened the taste of victory for the Blues, who defeated the Queensland Maroons<\/a> 11-6 in a triumphant start to their title defence in front of a 20,179-strong crowd.<\/p>\n

A 6-6 deadlock was broken with seven minutes remaining in the Newcastle clash when Southwell, the 21-year-old halfback who's just signed with the Broncos, slotted a field goal from 20 metres out.<\/p>\n

AS IT HAPPENED:<\/strong> Women's State of Origin, game one\ufeff<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> NRL dynasty could be crushed by Chiefs spending spree<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Luai hits back at hypocrisy claims after monster Chiefs deal<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"NEWCASTLE,<\/p>\n

Southwell, who called McDonald Jones Stadium home \ufeffduring her decorated time with the Knights, knocked over the field goal and immediately urged her teammates to remain level-headed. It was a sign of maturity beyond years.<\/p>\n

When Sergis split through a disjointed Queensland defence on the right edge in the dying seconds, the NSW players erupted in celebration, as did Blues supporters.<\/p>\n

Watch the 2026 Women's State of Origin series live and free on Nine and<\/strong><\/em> 9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

"She nails the moment, Jesse Southwell\ufeff," former NSW star Allana Ferguson said on Nine of Southwell's field goal.<\/p>\n

"Have a look at that ball drop, and just hit it as sweet as it gets. That's as good as a drop goal gets."<\/p>\n

Queensland icon Cameron Smith\ufeff hailed the brilliant No.7 as "the most consistent kicker in the women's game".<\/p>\n

"She just nailed that opportunity," he said.<\/p>\n

\"Sergis<\/p>\n

With 10 seconds remaining and the Blues \ufeffon an attacking raid deep in Maroons territory, the ball was thrown out to the right.<\/p>\n

Queensland winger Julia Robinson burst out of the line in a desperate attempt for an intercept, but \ufeffSergis gobbled up the ball and zig-zagged through a fractured defensive line.<\/p>\n

Ecstatic, the Roosters gun dived over the line and sprung back to her feet, her teammates mobbing her as cheers, roars and flame machines electrified the venue.<\/p>\n

In a highly physical affair\ufeff in the Hunter, the left ankle of Blues captain Isabelle Kelly bent into a nasty position as she was brought down in a tackle with 12 minutes to go.<\/p>\n

She grimaced in agony as she was brought down, but was strapped heavily and soldiered on, playing out the game.<\/p>\n

\"Blues<\/p>\n

Queensland lost two players\ufeff to head injuries<\/a> in front-rower Makenzie Weale and lock Keilee Joseph.<\/p>\n

Speaking to NSW legend Brad Fittler on the field post-game, Southwell did a fine job of summing up the match \u2013 and praised the state of women's rugby league.<\/p>\n

"That's probably the fastest game I've ever played, and definitely the toughest game I've ever played," Southwell said.<\/p>\n

"It was end-to-end and Queensland didn't let up.<\/p>\n

"I think it just goes to show\ufeff what the women's game is doing. It was a great Origin game."<\/p>\n

Kelly gave Southwell a big rap.<\/p>\n

\"2026<\/p>\n

"\ufeffSeriously, every time we're in our training sessions she's doing the one-percenters before and after training, she's asking Strangey [Blues coach John Strange] all the one per cent questions, she's just doing everything right," she said.<\/p>\n

"And she's such a young talent that she's going to have so many years in this arena.<\/p>\n

"For myself as an older player getting to play with her, it's really exciting. She's so good to watch."<\/p>\n

Blues back-rower Yasmin Meakes claimed player of the match.\ufeff<\/p>\n

NSW will clinch the series if they beat Queensland in game two at Suncorp Stadium on May 14.\ufeff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A\ufeff clutch field goal off the right boot of young gun Jesse Southwell gave NSW a one-point buffer in the dying minutes of the State […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":500706,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/500704"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=500704"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/500704\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":500709,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/500704\/revisions\/500709"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/500706"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=500704"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=500704"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=500704"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}