Blues Women make history at NSW Sports Awards

The Westpac NSW Blues Women have made history by becoming the first State of Origin team to receive the NSW Champions of Sport Team of the Year title at the 2025 NSW Sports Awards, hosted at The Star Event Centre in Sydney last night.

During this significant event, True Blue Ricky Stuart AM was also inducted into the NSW Hall of Champions, making it a remarkable evening for the NSW Rugby League community.

John Strange, coach of the NSW Blues Women, and seasoned player Kezie Apps accepted the award after their team secured the Ampol State of Origin Shield in a 2-1 series victory, which included triumphs at both Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane and Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

This milestone represents the first occasion that any NSW Blues team, whether male or female, has won this award since its establishment in 1994.

The NSW Blues Women join an exclusive list as the sixth Rugby League team to achieve this honor, alongside the Penrith Panthers (2003, 2022-23), St George Illawarra Dragons (2010), Wests Tigers (2005), Sydney Roosters (2002), and Newcastle Knights (1997).

The NSWRL extends its congratulations to the Westpac NSW Blues Women on their remarkable success in 2025, as well as to Ricky Stuart for his contributions to Rugby League in NSW as a player and coach.