The Kezie Apps and Millie Boyle-led NSW Blues have been left heart broken after a late penalty gave the Origin result to Queensland on Friday night.
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Playing at a rain-soaked Suncorp Stadium, scores were dead-locked at 6-6 before Hanisi was pulled up for a leg pull on Maroons prop Chelsea Lenarduzzi to give Queensland the option in front of the posts.
Centre Lauren Brown made no mistake with the boot just 20 seconds before the siren giving the Blues no chance to force the draw.
"It shouldn't have come down to that in the end and it's an unfortunate way to lose," NSW metre-eater Boyle said, after being one of the Blues' top performers on the night.
"[Wet weather] definitely changed the way we played a bit, but we shouldn't have let it get to that and they got the better of us."
Apps who once again captained the Blues led the tackle count with 38, while Boyle was in the top three for metres gained off 15 hit ups.
"I think we started really well and we got to the things we needed to do on the field to create really good pressure," Boyle said "and then we took the foot off the mark and they took advantage of that."
The stage was set for a nail-biting finish when scores were locked at 6-6 after recalled NSW halfback Maddie Studdon potted over a 53rd-minute penalty when Lenarduzzi was placed on report for a dangerous tackle.
Queensland looked to have snatched the lead when fullback Tamika Upton crashed over in the 64th minute, only for the try to be disallowed with Julia Robinson was deemed to have obstructed Corban Baxter in the lead-up.
The Maroons had led 6-4 at half-time lead after overcoming a strong start by NSW.
Boyle said the result could have looked vastly different, but the Blues lost a little direction in the second half and some fifth tackle options went awry.
"There were times we ran it and should have kicked, or kicked, but should have run it," she told media after the clash.
Boyle was apologetic to the families who missed out on Friday's clash after covid restrictions limited who could attend play and said a return to Sydney next year would be welcome.
The Brisbane Broncos and NSW forward said the best option would be to extend women's Origin to a series in line with the men's.
"To get it to a three game series, that's the ultimate goal."
In other South Coast appearances over the weekend, Dale Finucane did not get to see any game time in the Blues' series win over Queensland 26-0 on Sunday night.
Finucane was named at 20th man, but Angus Chrichton ultimately got a spot on the bench to replace the injured Jake Trbojevic.
Former Merimbula footballer Samson Ryan also made his national debut in AFL, running out for the Richmond Tigers in their loss to St Kilda.