Maddison Studdon to lead NSW in women's State of Origin with Ruan Sims injured

South Sydney’s Maddison Studdon will captain NSW in the inaugural Women’s State of Origin with star Ruan Sims ruling herself out because of injury. The young halfback will create history as the Blues’ first skipper on 22 June when the women’s match against Queensland gets the NRL’s representative weekend under way.

A long-time shining light for the sport, Sims broke her nose playing last weekend, adding to her injury woes after undergoing hand surgery on Thursday.

“I went in for surgery on Thursday and had a plate put into my fifth metacarpal - I had a spiral fracture which was unstable and the surgeon needed to fix it,” Sims told the Nine Network on Monday night. “It was a big weekend of footy – stitches, a broken nose and broken hand. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

It’s a blow for the Blues as they look to make it three-straight years of success against the Maroons after defeating them in the former Interstate Challenge. Studdon, 23, has viewed as the future of the women’s game after bursting into the Australian team in 2014.

NSW squad: Sam Bremner, Taleena Simon, Corban McGregor, Isabelle Kelly, Nakia Davis-Welsh, Lavina O’Mealey, Maddison Studdon (captain), Elianna Walton, Rebecca Riley, Simaima Taufa, Talesha Quinn, Kezie Apps, Vanessa Foliaki, Nita Maynard, Rebecca Young, Holli Wheeler, Hannah Southwell, Quincy Dodd.