Forget the loss – game was special, says Gray
NSW ran down Queensland 14-4 to seal a fourth straight women’s State of Origin triumph, but Maroons backrower Tazmin Gray took her own little victory out of the Friday night spectacle.
Gray, 23, believes the Origin encounter – played in front of 10,515 people at North Sydney Oval – was another excellent step forward for the sport.
“I’m so proud of both teams to be able to put on a massive performance and promote our game as women and as NRL players, to grow the game and help young kids to be able to fulfil their dreams of playing rugby league,” she said.
“Win or loss, I feel like we’re winning anyway as women to be able to play on such a massive platform and promote the game in the way that we did and conduct ourselves professionally.
“For me that’s a win anyway.”
Suggestions have been made to lengthen the showcase match from 60 minutes or add more games into the series. Gray is all for the concept growing but is content with the existing format for now.
As for Friday night, it was the Burleigh star who crossed first to hand Queensland a 4-0 halftime lead before the tide turned.
“In that second half we lost our way a little bit and unfortunately in Origin if you don’t take the opportunities that you have, then you don’t come out with the end result,” Gray said.
“We didn’t finish as good as we started, so that’s what got us in the end.” Among the other Gold Coasters to put in big efforts on the night was NSW debutant Millie Boyle, who earned a late promotion into the Blues’ starting side at prop.
Boyle carried the ball forward for 125m, while her Bears club teammate Chelsea Lenarduzzi topped the running metres tally for Queensland with 124m off the bench.