Berry destined for greatness after match-winning play
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NSW captain Isabelle Kelly has declared Teagan Berry is destined for a long Origin career after the rookie produced a match-winning play in Thursday’s dramatic victory over the Maroons.
Playing in just her second State of Origin match, Berry came across in cover defence to take Queensland winger Jasmine Peters into touch in the final minute of the game.
Berry saves the game
The tackle secured a 14-10 NSW win and delivered the Blues a second-straight series victory.
Berry had made a couple of errors earlier in the game and Kelly praised her ability to bounce back to come up with the big play when the match was on the line.
“She’s incredible,” Kelly said. “We’ll all learn from things within this game but I see this jersey and she’s going to be wearing it for a long time, no matter what position she plays.
“She’s the ultimate competitor. When Strangey told me she was going to be in the side, I was over the moon because I thought this was the year she could inject herself into our Origin team.
“I love having her out there, she’s electric with the ball and the way she can take off with her feet, but defensively she was super stubborn.”
NSW will now turn their focus to securing a clean sweep, with Game Three of the series to be played on the Gold Coast on May 28.
Berry’s tackle was the second big play made by the Blues defence in the dying moments of Thursday’s clash at Suncorp Stadium.
After NSW jumped out to an early lead, Queensland fought back and hit the front early in the second half.
The Blues hit straight back through Jess Sergis but the Maroons had multiple opportunities to level the scores as the match went down to the wire.
Southwell saves a certain ty
Peters appeared to have an open run to the try-line with 13 minutes to play before NSW halfback Jesse Southwell came across in cover defence to deny the winger.
For Kelly, it was another example of the defensive effort the Blues have built their series victory on.
“She’s a champion,” Kelly said. “She’s so loved within our team. There’s so much respect for her in what she can do and at such a young age, being the halfback she is.
“She’s someone that will never give up. Strangey picks people on those characteristics and that’s across the whole team.
“We can pinpoint all the things the girls did within the game, everyone stood up when they needed to and did the things asked of them. It was down to the wire but I was so proud to have those girls there fighting to the last minute.”
Peters’ 70th-minute effort was initially awarded a try before the Bunker took a close inspection at the play and ruled her foot had touched the sideline before she grounded the ball.
The decision took the Maroons from elation to devastation as their hopes of keeping the series alive were dashed.
Queensland coach Nathan Cross was thrilled with his side’s effort but disappointed they couldn’t get over the line.
Rory Owen Try
“That’s Origin,” Cross said. “It’s a game of millimetres. It just didn’t go our way unfortunately. That’s Origin footy, we had our chances and we just couldn’t quite get it done.
“Watching it live I thought she might have touched the sideline. When the try went up, I was not getting too far ahead of myself.
“I felt like a moment like that was coming. I could feel it, with the way we trained, they’re such a great group to coach, I knew we had a late rally in us, but millimetres in it.”
