Women's State of Origin is set to make history in Newcastle on Thursday night, with the match sold out for almost a week and a crowd of over 30,000 expected. This will be the fifth consecutive Origin game to break the attendance record for standalone women's rugby league.
Newcastle has shown strong support for women's rugby league, with large crowds attending NRLW games last season and the Knights' first NRLW premiership in 2023 drawing significant attention. The city has never hosted an Origin game in either the men's or women's series, though the 2021 men's Game III was scheduled there before being moved due to COVID-19.
Blues backrower Yasmin Clydsdale, who was player of the match in Game I, said the Newcastle community deserves this event. 'It's something the Newcastle community deserves, the way they show up for the NRLW games shows how much they love women's rugby league,' she said. Clydsdale, a Scone product, described playing in front of her family and community as a dream come true.
The Blues will field an unchanged lineup as they aim to reclaim the shield. Queensland has made changes, with Ali Brigginshaw moving from lock to halfback, Evania Pelite shifting from centre to wing, and Lauren Brown joining the starting side.
