In a storybook ending to her four-season tenure with the Newcastle Knights, 21-year-old NRLW star Jesse Southwell delivered a moment that will go down in State of Origin folklore on Thursday night: a match-winning, career-first field goal that carried the NSW Blues to an 11-6 win over Queensland Maroons in the series opener. The fairytale victory came just two days before Southwell relocates to Brisbane to join the back-to-back defending champion Broncos on a two-year contract, turning the critical late-game score into the ideal send-off for the Newcastle faithful that has supported her since she turned pro.
Southwell has already built an impressive resume in her young career, claiming two NRLW premiership titles with the Knights and earning representative honors at both the state and national level. But heading into Thursday’s clash at Newcastle’s Hunter Stadium, one milestone had eluded her: she had never attempted a field goal in 40 career top-flight games, let alone nailed one under playoff pressure.
The stage was set in the final 10 minutes of the clash, with neither side able to break through for a decisive score, locking the game at 6-all. After her first attempt at a one-pointer was charged down by Maroons forward Destiny Brill, Southwell got a second chance, thanks in large part to teammate Olivia Kernick. The pair had discussed a potential field goal setup earlier in a break in play, and after the first blocked attempt, Kernick again encouraged Southwell to step up for the second opportunity. This time, Southwell split the posts, putting the Blues ahead for good.
“ I’ve never kicked a field goal in a game before, in a real game I mean. But that was cool,” Southwell told reporters after the match. “It was actually Kernick at that point. We had a discussion earlier when there was a break in play about setting up for a field goal. I went to the first one, she actually told me to do that one as well which was so good, and then I missed that one. And then the second one came around and she was like, ‘Jesse, kick it now’. I was like, ‘Sweet’.”
NSW head coach John Strange said he never doubted Southwell’s ability to step up to the pressure moment, even after the first failed attempt, pointing to the young halfback’s signature mental toughness as the key to the historic play.
“The fact that she did that after the first time is just a testament to who she is. She’s got a really strong positive mindset as a young half, which you obviously need,” Strange said. “She backs herself. For me as a coach, I want all these players to back themselves, that’s why they’re in this team. All 17 players that played tonight are exceptional athletes and very good footy players. For me, it’s about them backing their ability. Jesse is obviously guiding the team around, but icing a moment like that when it turns up is exactly what you want.”
Playing the match on the home ground she called home for four seasons with the Knights added an extra layer of meaning to the play, and Southwell showed a maturity far beyond her 21 years when asked about her emotions in the aftermath of the kick. Rather than celebrating immediately, she shifted her focus to closing out the win, well aware of Queensland’s history of late match-winning plays against NSW in both men’s and women’s Origin contests.
“I was just thinking about my next job because there were still a few minutes left, and I just knew the game wasn’t over yet,” she explained. “Queensland have done it to NSW in the men’s game and the women’s game time and time again (when they win it late), so I was honestly just thinking about the next job and not losing the game from there.”
The fairytale send-off lines up with the next chapter of Southwell’s career: she confirmed she will pack her bags and relocate to Brisbane this Sunday, and will begin orientation and pre-season commitments with the Broncos in the coming week. She has already been commuting between Newcastle and Brisbane in recent weeks to ease the transition.
With the first game of the three-match series secured, Southwell and the NSW Blues will now head to Suncorp Stadium for the second Origin clash on May 14, where they will look to lock in the series win and claim the 2025 State of Origin title.