'Strong, positive mindset'; Southwell praised by Blues after homecoming triumph

Blues coach John Strange and captain Isabelle Kelly praised playmaker Jesse Southwell after the departing Knights star returned as a home coming hero to steer NSW an 11-6 win.

Southwell kicked a 64th minute field goal to break a 6-6 deadlock in the Origin series opener at McDonald Jones Stadium after having a previous attempt charged down.

The 21-year-old also shifted the ball on the last tackle of the match before Jessica Sergis scored to spark celebrations among the 20,179 crowd for NSW’s first win at ‘Blue Castle” in three Origins in Newcastle.

“She had an opportunity a set earlier and got charged down by Destiny Brill … but then she got another opportunity on the very next set off the back of a seven-tackle set and iced it,” Strange said.

“The fact that she did that after the first time, it's a testament to who she is. She has got a really strong, positive mindset as a young half, which you obviously need.

“She backs herself and as a coach I want all of these players to back themselves, but Jess is guiding the team around and icing a moment like that when it turned up.”

The two-times premiership winner left Knights fans disappointed after she quit the club at the end of last season to join the Broncos.

Yet if Southwell was concerned about what sort of reception she would receive upon her return she didn’t show it as the Blues overcame a 6-0 halftime deficit to snatch victory against Nathan Strange’s new-look Maroons.

“I think she's grown quite a lot, and she's very well respected within our group.” Kelly said.

“She's kind of like a little sister to all of us, but she's come so far in the last few years, I think, now she's just really comfortable within this squad, and really confident with steering us around. I was so stoked when she got that field goal.”

Kelly suffered an ankle injury late in the match but played on as the Blues defended their line after the Brill charge down, with fullback Abbi Church producing two try saving tackles on her line.

The Maroons suffered a blow in the opening tackle after prop Mackenzie Weale suffered a Category 1 HIA and was ruled out of the match.

However, her replacement Otesa Pule – the first Kiwi to play Origin under the new eligibility rules – made an immediate impact by scoring a third minute try.

Queensland also lost secondrower Keilee Joseph – arguably their best player - in the second half after a head knock and Brill – the 18th player – also stepped up when called on for the last 12 minutes of the match.

With both sides only carrying two forwards on the interchange, Strange instructed his players to try to take advantage of tiring defence around the ruck but the Maroons never succumbed to fatigue.

“We missed a chance tonight but also we can see where we can win it next time,” Cross said. “You certainly don’t plan to lose a player in the first tackle of the game.

“It throws everything out the window and you have got to frontload your interchanges, and hope you can hang on. The girls were brave but we just couldn’t quite get it done tonight.”