LIVE Women’s Origin: Qld lose star No.1 as NSW close in on series win

Reigning Dally M medalist Olivia Kernick has helped get her NSW Blues out to a 20-6 lead over the Queensland Maroons, who have lost star fullback Tamika Upton to a hamstring injury.

A Kernick error may have opened the door for Queensland’s first try but the star lock more than made up for it by setting up a try and then scoring one herself.

A heavy downfall pre-game made it a heavy and slippery surface with both teams coming up with a couple of errors in the early exchanges.

MATCH CENTRE: NSW vs Queensland Women’s Origin live score, stats, highlights

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One of those errors gifted Queensland their first try when Upton pounced on a live ball after Kernick failed to clean up a Lauren Brown grubber. Referee Belinda Sharpe initially made the call that Upton had knocked on but the bunker overruled her and it was deemed a try.

Kernick made up for it not long after when she set up Simaima Taufa for the Blues’ first try of the night. Taufa charged onto a ball from Kernick and beat two Maroons players to slide over the try-line.

Kernick then found the line herself, beating three Queensland players on her way to a try that gave the Blues the lead heading into half time.

NSW picked up from where they left off in the opening five minutes of the second half with Jayme Fressard crossing in the corner. It came after some impressive ball-work from Jesse Southwell, who threw a cutout pass to Isabelle Kelly, who then threw the final pass.

Queensland’s hopes to level the series copped a serious blow mid-way through the second half when Upton left the field limping. The superstar No.1 suffered a hamstring injury just moments earlier while attempting to stop a Jaime Chapman try.

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