An eye-gouge accusation rocked the NSW Sky Blues’ record 32-12 win over the Queensland Maroons in the 2025 State of Origin opener at Suncorp Stadium.
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Following a first half try to Blues skipper Isabelle Kelly, NSW hooker Keeley Davis made a complaint to referee Belinda Sharpe over an alleged eye-gouge from Maroons second-rower Romy Teitzel.
Captain Kelly made an official complaint against Teitzel, alleging Davis was the victim of an eye gouge.
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“The Blues player was asked several times whether or not she wanted to go on with it, and she was quite determined,” Phil Gould said in commentary.
The incident was placed on report by referee Sharpe for review with the match review committee set to put it under the microscope.
Blues coach John Strange confirmed the allegation in his post match press conference with Kelly.
“I just spoke to Keeley and she said she got eye-gouged during the first half,” Strange said.
“She wasn’t sure who, there was a couple in the tackle, but she told the ref and they put it on report so they will have a look at it.”
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Kelly confirmed what was said on the field, which is why she made the complaint to the referee.
“She said exactly that and I told any of the girls to come to me for anything if they need to and that’s exactly what I did, put my players first,” Kelly said.
“But we will see what comes of it at the end of the day.”
Kelly was pressed on how she got Keeley back focused on the job after the incident.
“I think if you know Keeley you know that is not going to rattle her,” Kelly said.
“She told me she got bitten last year,” Strange interjected.
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“Yeah and she let it go, so I said if anything happens this time you make sure you tell me,” Kelly continued.
“She’s a professional and she was great tonight and I knew it wasn’t going to affect her.”
Maroons coach Tahnee Norris was cagey on the incident in her press conference.
“Not yet no,” Norris said when asked about the eye gouge accusation.
Norris was pressed on who the accusation was made against.
“No idea,” Norris said.
Meanwhile, Tiana Penitani was placed on report for a hair pull on Tamika Upton.
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