Women's Origin player ratings: NSW Blues

Player ratings for the NSW Blues team in their Women's State of Origin clash with the Queensland Maroons at Sunshine Coast Stadium.

1. Botille Vette-Welsh: Very safe at the back. Missed a tough one-on-one for Upton's first try but made up for it with a super try-save on Harden soon after. Got her own back on Upton eventually with a dazzling solo try in the dying minutes. 8/10

2. Jessica Sergis: Uncharacteristically scratchy in the less familiar wing role, once running herself into touch and being wrong-footed on a kick-off. Still a big threat with her carries, getting through over 80 metres. 6

3. Tiana Penitani: Quiet first half but crossed for an impressive second-half try and netted almost 100 run metres by full time. 6.5

4. Isabelle Kelly: Pushed some questionable passes early on but very hard to handle with ball in hand as always, busting seven tackles with over 100 run metres. 6

5. Shanice Parker: No lack of effort but couldn't get the lucky bounce despite a couple of half-chances. 5.5

6. Corban McGregor: Caught out a couple of times defensively, stood up by Upton on opening try and also caught out of position on Aiken try. Steady stuff otherwise. Running game was strong but the Blues needed a bit more. 5.5

7. Melanie Howard: No easy task to make your Origin debut in the No.7 jersey but never looked out of place. Aside from one or two misfires, her kicking game was on song throughout setting up the try for Apps, and was a terrier in defence. 7

8. Simaima Taufa: Not as dominant as we're used to seeing from Taufa but still easily cracked 100 metres in a reliable 44 minutes in the middle. 6.5

20. Kylie Hilder: Sensationally swept into the starting side after an unfortunate injury to Keely Davis, the 44-year-old's crisp passing and reliable defence were a steadying influence for the Blues in the middle. Played all but 13 minutes and had some dangerous darts from dummy half to boot. 8

10. Millie Boyle: Played the first 44 minutes unchanged, came back on after a 10 minute rest and copped a horror broken nose. High quality with her stat line of 85 metres and 27 tackles not doing justice to her impact in the middle. 7

11. Kezie Apps: Inspirational. Arguably shouldn't have even been playing after doing an MCL in NRLW. Scored the Blues' first try chasing a kick that most back-rowers wouldn't have got to, helped save a try soon after and was among the top metre-getters for her side to go with a team-high 36 tackles. 9

12. Shaylee Bent: Hobbled off after 22 minutes having made 10 stinging tackles. Was able to return for the final 10 minutes but no major say on the outcome of the match. 5

13. Hannah Southwell: Brought plenty of physicality through the middle as always, getting through 26 hard-hitting tackles and close to 100 metres. 6.5

Interchange

14. Quincy Dodd: As she did throughout the NRLW, came on and made an immediate impact with her dangerous dummy-half darts. Arguably should have been given more then her 16 minutes. 6 

15. Filomina Hanisi: Played almost half the game off the interchange, making more metres than any Blues forward other than Apps and Taufa and busting a whopping nine tackles including a powerful late try. 7.5

16. Sarah Togatuki: Held back until the second half and missed Aiken in the lead-up to Upton's second try, playing just 15 minutes. 4

17. Yasmin Meakes: Given a long stint in the back row after the injury to Bent and acquitted herself well. 5.5

The views in this article do not necessarily express the opinions of the NRL, ARLC, NRL clubs or state associations.