The Blues dominated Game 1 of the 2025 Women’s State of Origin series, scoring a 32-12 win against the Maroons in Brisbane.
But it’s too early to celebrate just yet.
After a similar opening game result led to a series loss in 2024, the NSW camp is laser-focused on not letting history repeat itself when they return to Allianz Stadium for Game 2 on May 15.
Rookie Abbi Church, who impressed on debut with a try, said the team isn’t getting ahead of itself.
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"Game 2 is a completely new game ... the series is still on the line," Church said.
"We’re trying not to focus on last year, we’re trying to just focus on what’s in front of us. Obviously, there’s a possibility that anything can happen."
Forward Ellie Johnston agreed with that sentiment, saying the team has hit reset after their success in the opener.
"We’ve just started again, back at the basics ... forgetting about Game 1," she said.
Lock Yasmin Clydsdale reflected on the key lesson from last year’s series, where the Blues claimed the opener at Suncorp but failed to carry that momentum forward.
"What we definitely learned from last year is that we took a really good win up at Suncorp, and then we just didn’t put it into play for the following two games," she said.
"We don’t want a repeat of last year.
"It’s do or die for them, and we need to have that mentality as well."
While the 20-point win was a notable statement, players are sure they’ll need to find another gear to seal the series in Sydney.
"What we did last Thursday is not gonna be good enough," Johnston added.
"Queensland are gonna be a different team, and we know that ... we need to go up another level so we match that."
The NSW Blues named an unchanged lineup from Game 1, backing the same group to finish the job and bring the shield back to New South Wales.