An unsavoury moment rocked the first half of the 2025 NRLW State of Origin Opener – but the judiciary has announced the Queensland star at the centre of the scandal has no case to answer.
It came as New South Wales began on their road to State of Origin redemption, thrashing Queensland 32-12 in the women’s series opener to begin John Strange’s coaching tenure with a bang.
But New South Wales hooker Keeley Davis halted play just 16 minutes into the match, to accuse an opposition player of a shock eye-gouge.
In front of a record crowd, the Blues delivered a dominant second-half performance to shut out the home side and reclaim the series lead ahead of the return to Allianz Stadium.
Jesse Southwell’s game-changing play on the left edge set up Isabelle Kelly’s try, though controversy followed as players questioned the referee over an alleged eye gouge.
An unsavoury moment rocked the first half of the 2025 NRLW State of Origin Opener as NSW hooker Keeley Davis (centre) alleged an opposition player of an eye gouge
Referee Belinda Sharpe spoke to both Davis and captain Isabelle Kelly over the matter, putting the incident on report
The Blues took a 1-0 lead in the series after besting the Maroons at the Suncorp Stadium 32-12 on Thursday night
Referee Belinda Sharpe was heard saying on the ref mic: ‘So you want to make a formal allegation?’
Davis pointed to her right eye and then to where the incident took place as they talked through the alleged gouge.
She did not state which opposition player had allegedly gouged her. However it has been reported by News Corp that the alleged eye-gouge was committed by Maroons second-rower Romy Teitzel. Sharpe then put the incident on report.
However the NRL judiciary announced that there were no charges to come out of the first Origin match on Friday.
After the match the referee revealed the player did not know who had allegedly gouged her eye. It is believed that because a player had not been identified, they could not be charged.
‘I just spoke to Keeley and she said she got eye-gouged during the first half,’ the NSW coach said.
‘She wasn’t sure who, there was a couple in the tackle, but she told the ref and they put it on report so they will have a look at it.’
The footy star appeared to be OK following the incident, but was seen touching her eye and looking in some discomfort.
Former Dally M winner Jess Sergis got the Blues off to a fast start, touching down to give her side an early lead in the first half
Sienna Lofipo (left) pulled the scores level for the home side but the Blues would hit back
Queensland coach Tahnee Norris appeared cagey over the incident, stating she had ‘no idea’ who the allegation was made against.
But Davis doubled down on her claim after the match, claiming there was no doubt the alleged incident had occured.
‘Any time you get eye gouged I think it’s a surprise,’ she said.
‘I’ve never felt it in the game [before]. I felt an eye gouge [tonight].’
Davis then said she just wanted to put the incident behind her.
“Honestly, it’s like an error… You’ve got to be a goldfish, and I think the best players are goldfish about things that they don’t want to remember and even good things,” she said.
“You just have to keep your focus on the next job, so whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing that’s just happened, you really just need to look at the next thing.”
NSW will fancy their chances of clinching for the Origin shield for the first time since 2022 given they host the final two matches of the series.
First-gamer Jayme Fressard scored twice down the left wing in what was a stunning debut
Both sides will now take a fortnight off before they return to play at the Allianz Arena on May 15
After Sergis scored the opener down the right within four minutes, halfback Southwell had a hand in the Blues’ next three tries.
In her first Origin game since 2023, Southwell combined seamlessly with new captain Kelly and second-rower Yasmin Clydsdale, with the former crashing over before Fressard’s double.
Prop forward Johnston put the Blues on the path to victory when she burrowed over with 20 minutes to play and could have had a second.
She was narrowly held up in the final 10 minutes.
Fellow debutant Church confirmed the victory later in that set as Southwell threw the last pass to help make it a four-score game.
Five-eighth Tarryn Aiken was Queensland’s best, sending up the bomb that helped Lofipo score the Maroons’ first before putting debutant Rory Owen over with a flat ball.
But the Maroons could be thankful the deficit was not larger with Southwell missing three conversion attempts.
One of eight Origin debutants across the two sides, Queensland’s Jasmine Peters suffered a game-ending head knock colliding with Sarah Togatuki just before the break.
But she is set to clear concussion protocols by the second game of the series in Sydney on May 15.
Kelly, meanwhile, was full of praise for her young side tonight. Despite the emphatic win, she urged her side not to get complacent following the match.
‘We know how deadly they [Queensland] are … I was really proud of our debutants,’ Kelly told ABC Sport.
‘Two games to go, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves.’
