The Westpac NSW Blues have made history with a clean sweep of the 2026 women's Origin series against a proud Maroons outfit who just fell short of preventing a 3-0 loss.
Since women's Origin became a three-game series in 2024, both states have tasted a 2-1 win, so a whitewash gives the Blues huge bragging rights in the time honoured interstate battle.
Injuries forced the Maroons into changes for Origin III while the Blues stuck with a winning squad for the clash at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast and proved too good, winning 12-4.
The eight-point margin was the biggest of the series, with NSW winning 11-6 in Origin I and 14-10 in Origin II - showing how little separates the two teams, with the Blues having a big advantage in the experience stakes.
However, the young Maroons proved there is no such thing as a dead rubber in Origin and pushed NSW to the limit in another epic contest to conclude the 2026 series.
NSW second-rower Yasmin Meakes won the Katrina Fanning Medal as 2026 Player of the Series. Blues captain Isabelle Kelly was player of the match.
Meakes wins Player of the Series
Kelly claims Player of the Match
Relive all the action of Ampol Women's State of Origin Game 3 on NRL.com's live blog.
Queensland Maroons v NSW Blues at Cbus Super Stadium
Match: Maroons v Blues Women
Game 3 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues Women
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Maroons v Blues - Game III, 2026
Maroons: Game 3
Blues: Game 3
Blue rinse: NSW have created history by becoming the first women's team to cleansweep a State of Origin series. The Blues also became the first NSW team to win an Origin series 3-0 since 2000.
Department of youth: The Blues had too much experience, but Maroons coach Nathan Cross unearthed a number of young stars led by Chantay Kiria-Ratu, Jasmine Peters, Rory Owen and Destiny Mino-Sinapati. In the absence of injured superstars Tamika Upton, Julia Robinson and Tarryn Aiken, who missed the entire series with an ACL injury, the Queensland rookies will be better for the experience next season.
Brown gracious in defeat
Jaime & Jayme: The Blues wingers were outstanding in both defence and attack, denying Queensland any chance of going wide without the risk of finishing over the sideline and constantly threatening in attack.
From the field: Kezie Apps
From the field: Lauren Brown
From the field: Jayme Fressard
68 min: Chapman has been replaced by Teagan Berry who was unable to take a bullet like pass from Jess Sergis with an opportunity to score.
65 min: Chapman has come up with a big play for the Blues to force Ciesiolka into touch.
Chapman gives Owen zero space
64 min: Another goal line drop out after a perfectly placed Kiria-Ratu grubber kick.
63 min: A Manzelman grubber kick from dummy half has forced a goal line drop out and another chance for Queensland.
61 min: A play-the-ball error by Kezie Apps has given the Maroons another chance to get back into the game.
Crowd: 11,816
56 min: Brown has put down a pass from Emma Manzelman in front of the Blues posts with an overlap on her outside
55 min: Kelleher has given the Maroons a chance to hit back after spilling the kick off from Brown.
53 min: Fressard has put the Blues further ahead after a receiving an offload by Kelly and stepping infield before sprinting through a gap to score untouched. Southwell converted. NSW 12 Queensland 4.
Jayme Fressard Try
51 min: A relieving penalty for Queensland after a Blues gang tackle drove Peters into her in-goal. Referee Belinda Sharp ruled that she had already called held.
48 min: A communications mix-up at the back has gifted NSW the lead after Mino-Sinapati collided with Peters as she was attempting to catch a towering Kelleher bomb and Lolessio picked up the ball in an offside position. Southwell kicked a penalty goal from closer range. NSW 6 Queensland 4
43 min: A huge moment for NSW with Kelly and Fressard dragging Ivana Lolesio into touch to snuff out a Maroons attacking raid.
39 min: The Blues have lost their captain's challenge after a knock on by Church from an errant Kelleher pass was confirmed by the Bunker.
36 min: We are back underway and Southwell has kicked out on the full at the end of the opening set of tackles.
Redemption song: Jasmine Peters was denied two tries in Origin II that could have won the match but she has made amends by saving a try and scoring one in the opening 35 minutes.
Peters heroics stops Fressard
Home town villian: Jaime Chapman is a constant threat in the air and on the turn for the Blues. Only a trysaving tackle by Titans team-mate Lauren Brown stopped Chapman short after she fielded a cross-field kick, while being unable to hold an intercept.
Big hits and kicks: Rookie Maroons playmaker Chantay Kiria-Ratu is growing in confidence with each Origin and inspired team mates with a bone rattling tackle on Jocelyn Kelleher while consistently kicking them out of trouble with her huge right boot.
Kiria-Ratu rattles Kelleher
Halftime: Queensland 4 NSW 4
31 min: Peters has levelled for the Maroons from the scrum win, with Mino-Sinapati giving her side the extra player in the shift to the right. Brown missed the conversion from out wide. Queensland 4 NSW 4.
Jasmine Peters Try
30 min: Chapman has knocked down a long Brown ball to save a try but couldn't intercept.
26 min: The Blues have finally broken through for a try with fullback Abbi Church chiming into the backline to create an overlap for Isabelle Kelly to score. Southwell missed the conversion. NSW 4 Queensland 0.
Isabelle Kelly Try
25 min: Some more inspired Maroons defence, with Kiria-Ratu upending her five-eighth opposite Kelleher.
24 min: Back to back penalties against Queensland, including a high shot by Brianna Clark on Southwell.
21 min: Blues winger Jayme Fressard is the first player to cross after a cutout pass from Jocelyn Kelleher but lost the ball over the line in a tackle by Jasmine Peters.
20 min: Chapman has again outleapt Maroons winger Shenae Ciesiolka for a Southwell crossfield bomb but couldn't hold the ball.
19 min: Jospeh is placed on report for a crusher tackle.
Confirmed: Kiria-Ratu has a cannon for a boot
16 min: The big hits keep coming with Keilee Joseph nailing Yasmin Meakes.
14 min: Queensland are on the attack but a big hit by Isabelle Kelly on Destiny Mino-Sinapati slowed their momentum.
Kelly reads the play like a book
12 min: NSW had their best chance to score when Jaime Chapman fielded a crossfield kick from Jesse Southwell but a desperate tackle by Maroons captain Lauren Brown stopped her short.
Brown and Owen save a certain try
9 min: The Blues have been dominating field position but the Maroons defence is holding firm.
Kick off: The Maroons have first use of the ball and Chantay Kiria-Ratu kicked long on the fourth tackle.
Shot at history: The Blues are aiming to become the first team to win a Women's State of Origin cleansweep - a feat achieved by NSW just three times and not since 2000.
Pre-game: Isabelle Kelly
Series recap: The Blues won 11-6 in Origin I at McDonald Jones Stadium after a late Jesse Southwell field goal and hung on to win 14-6 in Origin II at Suncorp Stadium after a trysaving tackle by Teagan Berry with just seconds on the clock.
Milestone woman: Blues forward Kezie Apps will make her 20th appearance in a NSW jersey tonight.
Weather report: It has been raining all day on the Gold Coast so the players and fans are set for another wet Women's State of Origin.
Starting line-ups finalised
Maroons: No late changes to the 1-17, with veteran prop Chelsea Lenarduzzi named as 18th player. In earlier team news, after being named in the extended squad for the opening two matches, Destiny Mino-Sinapati will get her opportunity to debut, named to start at fullback for the injured Tamika Upton. Julia Robinson has also been ruled out, bringing Shenae Ciesiolka onto the wing. With starting prop Makenzie Weale a third player to be ruled out with injury, Broncos recruit Lillian Yarrow has been brought onto the bench for her Origin debut. Sharks back Georgia Ravics was a new face in the squad of 20 but won't play, along with Raiders forward Sophie Holyman.
Blues: No late changes, with Sharks hooker Quincy Dodd named 18th player nd Hannah Southwell and Corban Baxter dropping out. In earlier team news, having wrapped up the series at Suncorp Stadium, coach John Strange has named an unchanged side as his side targets a whitewash. Olivia Higgins was a late switch to start last game and has been named at hooker for Game Three. Teagan Berry, who came on just before half-time for Jayme Fressard on the wing and later pulled off a game-saving tackle, has again been named to come from the bench.
Game day: John Strange
Catch-up
Inside Camp: Lauren Brown
Inside Camp: Nathan Cross