A Heroic Tackle and a Historic Opportunity
Teagan Berry’s decisive tackle in the final moments of the second match of the State of Origin series was instrumental in securing a 14-10 victory for New South Wales (NSW) over Queensland. Her actions not only preserved the Blues’ lead but also set the stage for a potential historic sweep of the three-match series.
The game was tightly contested, with both teams showing their strength and determination. It was during the last 30 seconds that Berry made her mark. She tackled Jasmine Peters into touch, preventing what would have been a try that could have levelled the scores at 14-14. Referee Belinda Sharpe initially awarded the try, but replays revealed that Peters’ boot had slid into touch as she attempted to stretch through Berry’s tackle. This crucial moment proved to be the difference in the match.
“It’s probably one of the best feelings I’ve had playing footy,” Berry said. “I was lucky enough to take her out of the sideline and sort of win the game for us there and stop the try.”
Before this defining moment, Berry had faced a challenging night under the high ball, making two errors. One of these errors almost led to another try for Peters, which was thwarted by Jesse Southwell’s remarkable one-on-one tackle in the corner. Despite her earlier mistakes, Berry felt it was her responsibility to make a difference when it mattered most.
“I was like, ‘I sort of need to come up with a play here’. Lucky that I did that, otherwise I probably would’ve walked home tonight,” she said.
A Team That Fought Back
Southwell, who was the player-of-the-match, also played a vital role in the victory. She made a try-saving tackle just one set after receiving on-field medical attention for an apparent neck injury. A tackle from Romy Teitzel and Keilee Joseph left the halfback motionless on the ground, but she managed to recover and continue playing.
“My head just kind of got stuck in the ground. It felt like there was someone on top of me,” Southwell said. “I’m feeling good now, feeling great actually.”
With the Origin shield retained, the Blues are now focused on achieving something no team has done since the women’s series expanded to three games in 2024: a 3-0 whitewash. NSW had previously been in a strong position to sweep last year’s series, only to lose the third match on home soil.
“It hurt a lot,” Southwell said. “I hated not winning all three so we really want to win this series and sweep it.”
Learning from Past Disappointments
Since that heartbreaking loss in Newcastle, the Blues have been working tirelessly to correct their mistakes. Coach John Strange reflected on how the team has used the experience to fuel their motivation.
“It was something that we spoke about in the sheds after that game, just how the girls were feeling and just to bottle that feeling,” he said. “Then, hopefully, we’re in a position next year, which now we are, to then touch back on how that game felt when we get back into camp, and do everything humanly possible for that not to happen.”
As the Blues prepare for the third and final match, they carry the weight of past disappointments and the hope of making history. With a strong team spirit and a clear focus, they are determined to achieve what has never been done before. The journey has been tough, but the rewards could be monumental.
