Women's State of Origin Late Mail: Brill's new role; Higgins to start
After breaking their Newcastle hoodoo with a hard-fought victory over Queensland in the opening game of the series, the Westpac NSW Blues are aiming to wrap up the series at Suncorp Stadium.
The Blues prevailed 11-6 in a close and record-breaking Game One, where the result was in the balance until the final moments. Jesse Southwell kicked a field goal to put her side in front, before a Jess Sergis try just before the siren added the bonus points.
The Maroons however will be hoping to break a hoodoo of their own having not won at Suncorp Stadium under the State of Origin banner.
Skipper Tamika Upton and her team will be taking inspiration however from past pioneering Queensland teams who were able to find success at the venue during the Interstate Challenge era.
Both teams come into the match that will kick off a big few days of Magic Round with settled line-ups, with injury-forced changes in both teams.
Māori All Stars and Jillaroos forward Rima Butler come into the 17 for the Blues for her State of Origin debut in place of Tiana Penitani Gray (knee), with Maroons coach Nathan Cross recalling Indigenous All Stars representative Jasmine Peters for the injured Phoenix-Rain Hippi, who suffered a hamstring injury in her Game One debut.
With Game Three also being played in Queensland at the Gold Coast's Cbus Super Stadium, John Strange and his team will be hoping they can silence the home crowd.
This season, the Women’s State of Origin will be played under virtually unchanged rules from 2025, with four players on the bench and no set re-starts.
Match: Maroons v Blues Women
Game 2 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues Women
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Late Mail
Maroons: Two changes for Queensland in Thursday's 60-minute update, with Destiny Brill coming into the starting side at hooker and Jada Ferguson shifting to the interchange. Emma Manzelmann also comes on to the bench, with Shenae Ciesiolka reverting to 18th player. A hamstring injury to Game One debutant Phoenix-Rain Hippi has seen Maroons coach Nathan Cross call in versatile North Queensland back Jasmine Peters on the wing. Destiny Brill, who was 18th player in Newcastle but was brought into the action after Keilee Joseph and Makenzie Weale suffered head knocks, has been elevated into the 17, with Emma Manzelmann moving to the reserves. After being a late withdrawal from Game One, Brianna Clark comes back onto the bench, with Chelsea Lenarduzzi shifting to the reserves. Otesa Pule, who scored Queensland's only try in Newcastle in her debut, will start. Raiders forward Sophie Holyman and Broncos recruit Lillian Yarrow have been called in to train with the squad while Joseph and Weale see out the 11-day stand-down concussion protocols. Destiny Mino-Sinapati dropped out when the squad was cut to 19 on Wednesday.
Blues: Olivia Higgins will start at hooker in the only change for the Blues in their final team update. Keeley Nizza moves to the interchange as a result, with Corban Baxter remaining in the squad as 18th player. Tiana Penitani Gray, who played second row in Game One, has been ruled out with a knee injury. Māori All Stars and Jillaroos forward Rima Butler comes into the 17 for her Origin debut. Kezie Apps moves from the bench to the starting side in the second-row position. Dragons forward Hannah Southwell was the new face in the squad of 20 but she has made way when the squad was trimmed 24 hours before kick-off.
Match: Maroons v Blues Women
Game 2 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues Women
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Maroons is number 1 Tamika UptonFullback for Blues Women is number 1 Abbi Church
-
Winger for Maroons is number 2 Julia RobinsonWinger for Blues Women is number 2 Jaime Chapman
-
Centre for Maroons is number 3 Rory OwenCentre for Blues Women is number 3 Jessica Sergis
-
Centre for Maroons is number 4 Ivana LolesioCentre for Blues Women is number 4 Isabelle Kelly
-
Winger for Maroons is number 5 Jasmine PetersWinger for Blues Women is number 5 Jayme Fressard
-
Five-Eighth for Maroons is number 6 Chantay Kiria-RatuFive-Eighth for Blues Women is number 6 Jocelyn Kelleher
-
Halfback for Maroons is number 7 Lauren BrownHalfback for Blues Women is number 7 Jesse Southwell
Forwards
-
Prop for Maroons is number 8 Otesa PuleProp for Blues Women is number 8 Millie Elliott
-
Hooker for Maroons is number 14 Destiny BrillHooker for Blues Women is number 14 Olivia Higgins
-
Prop for Maroons is number 10 Jessika EllistonProp for Blues Women is number 10 Ellie Johnston
-
2nd Row for Maroons is number 11 Sienna Lofipo2nd Row for Blues Women is number 11 Kezie Apps
-
2nd Row for Maroons is number 12 Romy Teitzel2nd Row for Blues Women is number 12 Yasmin Meakes
-
Lock for Maroons is number 13 Keilee JosephLock for Blues Women is number 13 Olivia Kernick
Interchange
-
Interchange for Maroons is number 9 Jada FergusonInterchange for Blues Women is number 9 Keeley Nizza
-
Interchange for Maroons is number 15 Makenzie WealeInterchange for Blues Women is number 15 Kennedy Cherrington
-
Interchange for Maroons is number 16 Brianna ClarkInterchange for Blues Women is number 16 Rima Butler
-
Interchange for Maroons is number 19 Emma ManzelmannInterchange for Blues Women is number 17 Teagan Berry
Reserves
-
Replacement for Maroons is number 17 Shenae CiesiolkaReplacement for Blues Women is number 18 Corban Baxter
Match Officials
- Referee: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Maroons’ last four tries have been scored by forwards.
- The Blues have won both Women’s Origin games played at Suncorp Stadium (2024 and 2025).
- The Maroons have been outscored 16 tries to seven in their last four games.
- Blues centre Jess Sergis has scored three tries in her last four Origin games.
- Maroons halfback Lauren Brown has a 90 percent goalkicking record in State of Origin (18 from 20).
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
