For the New South Wales Blues, it was a State of Origin victory for the ages.
In front of a new record crowd for a Women's State of Origin, 25 492 people in a hostile Suncorp Stadium, the Blues were victorious, taking a 1-0 lead in the series, with a home game in Newcastle to look forward to for Game II.
In the lead-up to the game many people, including myself, were curious about the impact that the differing preparations would have on each team.
For Queensland, most of their women have been competing in the Queensland state-based competition. My view was that this might give the Maroons an advantage, as they had had the chance to play more week-to-week footy.
In the end, for most of the first half Queensland looked clunky and like their own worst enemies, completing well below 70 percent. It seemed that just as Queensland were finding their feet, the game had just passed them by. Critical moments included a bombed try from Emma Manzelmann without a Blues hand in sight and the first 10 minutes of the game where the Blues made easy ground down the middle of the field. Perhaps the Queensland women were impacted by not having spent enough time together, instead spending more time playing against players in the reserve grade competition.
NSW took a different approach to their preparation. New South Wales Rugby League opted to keep the state-based competition aligned with the National Women's Rugby League Premiership to act as a feeder for the NSW based NRLW clubs. That meant that the only women who had game time before the biggest clash of the year were the women who decided to fly-in fly-out to play in the Queensland competition.
In my view, this is too big of an ask for women that are still only part-time professional athletes. Even more difficult for two women, Hannah and Jesse Southwell, who were not picked by coach Kylie Hilder.
Instead of match fitness, the Blues instead depended on the bonds formed during a seven-week training camp at the NSW Centre of Excellence. It was during those sessions that Hilder made crucial decisions, like pairing Corban Baxter with the recalled Rachael Pearson in the halves and the decision to move Keeley Davis to lock, before starting her from the bench.
Those decisions paid off.
Whilst Queensland will be disappointed with the result, knowing that their best performance would have been far more competitive, NSW have plenty to be proud of.
Most of all, NSW can be proud of a game where every player played their role.
Yasmin Clydesdale was well deserved player of the match. With 13 runs, 162 run metres and 24 tackles she was dynamic in attack and consistent with her defence.
She was well supported by Olivia Kernick who made 171 metres and Jaime Chapman who looked dangerous every time she touched the ball. She may have dropped some ball, but with 140 metres, four tackle breaks in the first half alone, she continues to prove why she is one of the toughest wingers in the game to contain.
Emma Tonegato was solid, but at times looked to overplay her hand. Baxter was impressive in defence and for the most part, Pearson controlled the game well, fatiguing toward the end of both halves. The forwards shared the workload around, although it was Caitlan Johnston who was the most delighted, finding herself in open space in the first half leading to NSW's first try and then scoring the final try of the night to ice the victory for NSW.
Now onto Game II.
Hilder has been vindicated in her coaching selections. Barring injury to the likes of Kezie Apps who went off with a right knee injury, I expect the same team to be named for Game II. No reason to change a winning formula and Hilder will know that her team left points on the field.
I would also be surprised if Tahnee Norris makes changes. Queensland were their own worst enemy on the night with poor completions and errors in critical moments. Tamika Upton continued to look likely and Shannon Mato and Jessika Elliston looked more dominant as the game progressed. Tarryn Aitken was rocks and diamonds, where her diamonds shone bright, but her rocks were costly.
Both teams will be better for the opportunity to play this first game.
As to whether State of Origin should be played before the NRLW season starts, I am still of the view that the game would be even better if the players had greater match fitness and time together.
But for today, I'll celebrate that historic Blues win and be proud that the players got the quality of game which they deserved.
See you in Newcastle for Game II on 6 June. It's our role as fans to make sure it is not overshadowed by the men's game the night before.