2020 Women's State of Origin

2020 (2020) Women's State of Origin  ()
Queensland New South Wales 24 18
1 2 Total QLD 6 18 24 NSW 6 12 18
Date	13 November 2020
Stadium	Sunshine Coast Stadium
Location	Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Nellie Doherty Medal	Tarryn Aiken
Referee	Belinda Sharpe
Attendance	4,833
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters	Nine Network (Live) Fox League (Live)

The 2020 Women's State of Origin was the third official Women's State of Origin rugby league match between the New South Wales and Queensland played at Sunshine Coast Stadium on 13 November 2020. The teams have played each other annually since 1999 with the 2020 game being the third played under the State of Origin banner.^[1]

Queensland defeated New South Wales 24–18, winning their first State of Origin game and winning their first game since 2014. Queensland five-eighth Tarryn Aiken was awarded the Nellie Doherty Medal for Player of the Match.^[2]

Background

The 2020 Women's State of Origin game was originally due to be played in June but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was moved to the post-season for the first time. The game was played in Queensland for the first time under the State of Origin banner and for the first time overall since 2016.^[3][4] Unlike in 2019, a women's under-18 Origin game was not held as the curtain-raiser.

Teams

Queensland	Position	New South Wales
Tamika Upton	Fullback	Botille Vette-Welsh
Shenae Ciesiolka	Wing	Jessica Sergis
Julia Robinson	Centre	Tiana Penitani
Lauren Brown	Centre	Isabelle Kelly
Karina Brown	Wing	Shanice Parker
Tarryn Aiken	Five-Eighth	Corban McGregor
Zahara Temara	Halfback	Melanie Howard
Chelsea Lenarduzzi	Prop	Simaima Taufa
Brittany Breayley	Hooker	Kylie Hilder
Rona Peters	Prop	Millie Boyle
Tallisha Harden	2nd Row	Kezie Apps (c)
Tazmin Gray	2nd Row	Shaylee Bent
Ali Brigginshaw (c)	Lock	Hannah Southwell
Steph Hancock	Interchange	Quincy Dodd
Annette Brander	Interchange	Filomina Hanisi
Shannon Mato	Interchange	Sarah Togatuki
Shaniah Power	Interchange	Yasmin Meakes
Jason Hetherington	Coach	Andy Patmore

Match summary

Friday, 13 November 7:45 pm (AEDT)

Queensland	24 – 18	New South Wales
Tries: Tamika Upton (14', 43') 2 Tarryn Aiken (51') 1 Steph Hancock (57') 1 Goals: Lauren Brown 4/4 (15', 44', 52', 58')	Report 1st: 6 – 6 2nd: 18 – 12	Tries: 1 (24') Kezie Apps 1 (59') Tiana Penitani 1 (67') Filomina Hanisi 1 (69') Botille Vette-Welsh Goals: 1/1 Melanie Howard (26') 0/2 Quincy Dodd 0/1 Hannah Southwell

Sunshine Coast Stadium Attendance: 4,833 Nellie Doherty Medal: Tarryn Aiken Referee: Belinda Sharpe

References

1. "Queensland to host 2020 Women's State of Origin". Queensland Rugby League. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
2. "Queensland finally break NSW stranglehold as Tamika Upton proves inspirational". The Courier Mail. 13 November 2020.
3. Whittaker, Troy (21 May 2020). "Breaking new ground: Origin series and women's game in November". National Rugby League. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
4. "Tickets on sale for Harvey Norman Women's State of Origin". NRL. 27 October 2020.