NSW have claimed bragging rights in the first ever Buildcorp Super W match, squeaking past Queensland 18-0 at Suncorp Stadium.
In a match plagued by slippery conditions after a Brisbane downpour 30 minutes prior to kick off, NSW, guided by the accurate boot of captain Ashleigh Hewson, pinned QLD in their own 22 for large portions of the match.
It may have been smart, tactical kicking from Hewson that put NSW in the box seat but it was the brilliant feet of flyhalf Chloe Leaupepe that danced to the line from 40 out, beating an average tackle from Lavinia Gould en route to the line in the 14th minute.Leaupepe's try was preceded by a Hewson penalty goal and that was all the scoring there would be in the first term, a half that was cut short after Nareta Masters was injured and had to be stretchered off the field.
She was later cleared of spinal injuries, with medical staff stitching up a cut to her head and sending her back to the bench.
The second half produced more of the same, with Queensland pushing passes and subsequently struggling to build phase play, NSW relying on Hewson's kicking game and astute set piece to dominate territory and put the heat on the Queensland defensive line.
After fumbling the ball over the line twice in as many minutes, Atasi Lafai barged her way over in the right hand corner for NSW's second, with 53 minutes on the clock.Lafai belted Kirby Sefo with a superb tackle in the first half, stamping herself on the match.
That would be the final try of the afternoon, Hewson's second penalty goal sealing the result.
It was a well worked win for NSW but Queensland will be disappointed with their performance, particularly their inability to put any pressure on the NSW line in the second half.
Queensland's lack of go forward in attack limited the impact of star winger Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, who dished a pair of bone rattling hits but had very limited space with ball in hand.
RESULT
Queensland 0
Tries:
Cons:
Pens:
NSW 18
Tries: Leaupepe, Lafai
Cons: Hewson
Pens: Hewson 2