The New South Wales Blues ran roughshod over archrivals Queensland, clinching the women’s State of Origin series with a lopsided 26-6 win. It was that performance from Olivia Kernick that sparked her team to victory. The match, held at Allianz Stadium in front of 16,026 fans, witnessed Kernick’s exceptional skills on a rainy night, as she scored two tries and assisted another to propel her team to victory with a game still remaining in the series.
Olivia Kernick’s contributions were crucial in establishing the Blues’ dominance. She opened the scoring with a real show of power. She bustled through an impressive three tackles and then effortlessly shrugged off Queensland’s Tamika Upton to score under the sticks. Her first attempt pretty much decided the day. She showed amazing strength and athleticism, carefully choosing when to counterattack her opponents just right.
As the game wore on, it became clear that Kernick would go on affecting the scoreline. Her second came at just eight minutes to play, complementing her first perfectly. This game-changing play all but locked Queensland’s fate and took the game beyond their reach. Kernick’s playmaking was on full display as she set up Simaima Taufa for the score. Taufa then drove through multiple defenders and increased the Blues’ lead to 10-0.
Kernick’s strategic play extended beyond mere scoring. During the first quarter of the match she showed her tactical awareness with a perfectly placed crossfield kick that trapped Queensland in-goal. She delivered a critical cutout pass that allowed winger Jayme Fressard to score in the corner, further widening the gap against the Maroons.
Despite a few setbacks, including a missed ball that allowed Upton to score for Queensland, Kernick’s overall performance was instrumental in NSW’s triumph. As Upton limped off the field, her strategic analysis of the Maroons changes was on full display. It was then that Queensland’s shortcomings became painfully apparent and Palaszczuk pounced. Kernick didn’t miss her chance and doubled down on her assault. This play prepared Jaime Chapman’s attempt, putting NSW one goal away from winning the series title.
Adding to her remarkable performance, Kernick had recently been controversially overlooked for the Australian Test team despite winning the prestigious 2024 NRLW Dally M Medal. Rather than letting her disappointment fester, she channeled it into motivation on the pitch. In a dazzling show of strength and elegance, she silenced her doubters.
