The Westpac NSW Blues are chasing history and are aiming to secure the first ever series whitewash in women's State of Origin when they take on the Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons in Game Three.
Dominant in the first two outings thanks in a large part to their powerful forward pack, the New South Wales side will be confident they can get the job done against a Queensland team who have severely felt the absence this series of experienced forwards Shannon Mato and Tazmin Rapana.
Under coach John Strange, the Blues have built up some strong combinations, including that of unheralded halves pairing Jesse Southwell and Tiana Penitani Gray and will be tough to stop in front of what's set to be another big crowd in Newcastle.
The opening game in Suncorp Stadium broke the attendance record for a women's State of Origin match with 26,022, while a fantastic group of 16,026 hardy souls braved the weather to watch the Blues wrap up this year's series with a 26-6 win at Allianz Stadium.
The Maroons however will take some inspiration from their performance in Newcastle last year, where a Lauren Brown field goal snatched them a late win and changed the momentum of the series.
Match: Blues Women v Maroons
Game 3 -
home Team
Blues Women
away Team
Maroons
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Team News
Blues: No late changes for the Blues as they attempt to claim a clean sweep. For the third time this series, coach John Strange has named an unchanged 17 to take on the Maroons, with Game Two player of the match Olivia Kernick starting at lock. Olivia Higgins remains as the 18th player.
Maroons: In a late changes on game day, coach Tahnee Norris has moved Chelsea Lenarduzzi into the starting 13 position with Ali Brigginshaw moving to a bench. Rory Owen has also been ruled out, bringing Emily Bass up from the reserves to the starting line-up. Jada Ferguson is the 18th player. Earlier, injuries forced multiple changes for the Maroons, with star fullback Tamika Upton out after she was unable to finish Origin II with a hip complaint. Hayley Maddick comes in for her debut. Lock Keilee Joseph is also out for medical reasons. Skipper Ali Brigginshaw was named to wear 13, with Lauren Brown moving from hooker to halfback. Destiny Brill returns to the starting lineup as dummy half. Sharks half Georgia Hannaway will also make her Origin debut and will come off the bench.
Match: Blues Women v Maroons
Game 3 -
home Team
Blues Women
away Team
Maroons
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Blues Women is number 1 Abbi ChurchFullback for Maroons is number 1 Hayley Maddick
-
Winger for Blues Women is number 2 Jaime ChapmanWinger for Maroons is number 2 Julia Robinson
-
Centre for Blues Women is number 3 Jessica SergisCentre for Maroons is number 3 Shenae Ciesiolka
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Centre for Blues Women is number 4 Isabelle KellyCentre for Maroons is number 19 Emily Bass
-
Winger for Blues Women is number 5 Jayme FressardWinger for Maroons is number 5 Jasmine Peters
-
Five-Eighth for Blues Women is number 6 Tiana Penitani GrayFive-Eighth for Maroons is number 6 Tarryn Aiken
-
Halfback for Blues Women is number 7 Jesse SouthwellHalfback for Maroons is number 7 Lauren Brown
Forwards
-
Prop for Blues Women is number 8 Simaima TaufaProp for Maroons is number 8 Makenzie Weale
-
Hooker for Blues Women is number 9 Keeley DavisHooker for Maroons is number 9 Destiny Brill
-
Prop for Blues Women is number 10 Ellie JohnstonProp for Maroons is number 10 Jessika Elliston
-
2nd Row for Blues Women is number 11 Kezie Apps2nd Row for Maroons is number 11 Sienna Lofipo
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2nd Row for Blues Women is number 12 Yasmin Clydsdale2nd Row for Maroons is number 12 Romy Teitzel
-
Lock for Blues Women is number 13 Olivia KernickLock for Maroons is number 16 Chelsea Lenarduzzi
Interchange
-
Interchange for Blues Women is number 14 Jocelyn KelleherInterchange for Maroons is number 13 Ali Brigginshaw
-
Interchange for Blues Women is number 15 Kennedy CherringtonInterchange for Maroons is number 14 Georgia Hannaway
-
Interchange for Blues Women is number 16 Sarah TogatukiInterchange for Maroons is number 15 Sophie Holyman
-
Interchange for Blues Women is number 17 Emma VerranInterchange for Maroons is number 17 Tavarna Papalii
Reserves
-
Replacement for Blues Women is number 18 Olivia HigginsReplacement for Maroons is number 18 Jada Ferguson
Match Officials
- Referee: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Blues have 122 games in Origin experience, compared with 98 for the Maroons.
- The Maroons won last year’s Origin clash in Newcastle 11-10.
- Blues winger Jayme Fressard has scored three tries in her first two Origin games.
- Maroons players Hayley Maddick and Georgia Hannaway will make their State of Origin debuts.
- The Blues have maintained an unchanged line-up throughout the three-game series.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
