Full 80 minutes the next step in State of Origin evolution

Queensland led from the first minute to the last as they wrapped up the inaugural three-game State of Origin series, with Evania Pelite supporting calls for the women’s contest to expand to a full 80 minutes.

The player of the match in Game Three, Pelite crossed in the first minute to put her team on the front foot in Townsville and said it was great to see the rapid developments in the women’s space that had allowed the Maroons to fight to retain the shield in the decider after going down in the series opener.

“It was huge to have three games, we didn't perform to the best that we could at Suncorp and it was really deflating, especially in front of a home crowd,” Pelite told NRL.com.

“I think that definitely fuelled a fire in our belly; so to come out and grind through the second game and then to put on a performance like that – close to our best performance we've had – it's pretty exciting to see what this group can do.

“We came out with a game plan and I'm just so happy to see that we were able to finally stick to that and stick to it for a full 70.

“Our defence was relentless. NSW had a lot of sets on our line and to see the girls muster up, constantly force errors and put their body on the line to stop tries was pretty incredible to watch.”

Despite the increased intensity of the Origin match, the Titans gun thought players would be ready to play a full game to decide a result, especially with her Maroons side outscoring the Blues in the second half of each match.

“I think we are ready for a full 80-minute Origin; I think it would make the game really interesting to be honest,” Pelite said.

“(In Game One), we were creating momentum in the second half, I think an extra 10 minutes would have made it really interesting.”

The women’s game has been experiencing a sustained period of growth in recent seasons, not only at the elite levels, with grassroots participation rates also increasing every year.

Rules have been modified across the board to encourage more competitive and high-quality matches including shortened minutes and 40/30 kicks being rewarded as opposed to 40/20, despite Maroons skipper Ali Brigginshaw showing she doesn’t need such concessions with her kicking game in Townsville.

It is at this elite level where the game has seen the biggest improvements in skill and support, and while NRLW players are not yet fully professional, they do have more time to train and focus on football and it shows on the field.

This series was played in front of sell-out crowds and gained record television audiences, while on the field, the physicality and skill level impressed, despite most players not playing competitive matches in the lead up.

Having finally earned a three-game series, State of Origin coaches Tahnee Norris and Kylie Hilder were both asked their thoughts on where the next developments in the game might be, with a change in the NRLW season to earlier in the year and a full 80-minutes for Origin games a move they supported.

“One hundred percent they are ready (for full 80-minute Origin games) … I think everyone wants it now,” Hilder said.

“I know they didn’t like it because they thought the (quality of the) game deteriorated in the last five minutes, but you have seen these girls, they are athletes, they train hard, they are ready and I think they deserve to have a full 80-minute Origin.”

Her Queensland counterpart Norris agreed – but said players would need to be supported to ensure the high-quality of play remained a key feature and wanted to see the NRLW continue to grow as well.

“We're adding two more teams to the NRLW, the fact that we've now finally got the Origin series to three games, if we can keep growing the sport there … I know it's been talked about in the media this week about the 80-minute games; I think you look at how fit our girls were (tonight), I think we're at a point where we can nearly push for that, I think they're up for it,” Norris said.

“But we need to make sure that we're continually growing the sport and get it professional so these girls are training full-time.

“If we're expecting 80 minute games, then we need to make sure we look after these girls and provide an environment where they're training full-time to be able to do that.”

This year’s Telstra Women’s Premiership season kicks off later this month with defending premiers Newcastle Knights hosting the Roosters on July 25.