Ghosts of Origins past fuel Southwell’s nerves of steel
George Clarke |
Up until she rose to the occasion when NSW needed her most in the Women’s State of Origin opener, Jesse Southwell had never kicked a field goal in her career.
But the NSW halfback and two-time NRLW premiership winner did a good job of hiding her inexperience as she piloted the Blues to an 11-6 game-one win with the state’s past Origin failures fresh in her mind.
“You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do if you want to win,” Southwell said after kicking the Blues to victory in Newcastle on Thursday.
“I’ve never kicked a field goal in a real game.”
With the scores locked at 6-6 heading into the final 10 minutes, Southwell’s first attempt was charged down before she composed herself and nudged a vital one-pointer.
Playing on her home deck for the last time before she swaps the Newcastle Knights for the Brisbane Broncos, Southwell said she was ordered into position by NSW lock Olivia Kernick.
The playmaker knew it was on her as the team’s No. 7 to ensure they claimed first blood in the series opener, with John Strange’s side, who also scored a late try through Jess Sergis, now within one win of retaining the series.
“There was still a few minutes left and I just knew that the game wasn’t over yet,” Southwell said.
“Queensland have done it to NSW in the men’s game and the women’s game time and time again.
“I was honestly just thinking about the next job and not losing the game for them.”
Strange’s side can wrap up the series with a win in game two in Brisbane on May 14, with game three to be played on the Gold Coast on May 28.
NSW were far from cohesive against a gritty Queensland side, Sergis’ late try – and Ellie Johnston’s barge-over – were the only times NSW breached the Maroons’ line.
Because of the NRL’s insistence at playing the Origin series before the NRLW season has kicked off, there was plenty of ring rust from both sides.
But as the conductor of the NSW attack, Southwell insists the Blues can take things up a notch as the series rolls on.
“I think we’ve got a lot to improve on, definitely personally as the half, there’s a lot that we clean up,” Southwell said.
“That’s our first game of the year, our first hit out so I think there’s a lot to improve on.
“Everyone wanted a three-game series and we’ve got it.”
AAP