The Blues have gone back-to-back in the Super Rugby Champions Final, but they were pushed all the way by an impressive NSW Waratahs, the 24-17 result suggesting a bright future ahead for women’s rugby in the region.
After the 36-5 result between the two sides in New Zealand last year, the sequel at Leichhardt Oval saw a dogged, tense match, with both sides not giving an inch for the full 80 minutes.
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The Waratahs showed how much growth they’ve gone through across the season, hitting the ground running and refusing to let the Blues run away with the game after the visitors produced two critical scores either side of the break.
However, a double to sevens star Katelyn Vahaakolo and a crucial second half try to Blues skipper Maiakawanakaulani Roos was enough to see the visitors home, surviving a late surge from the hosts to clinch victory.
So, what did we learn?
Maia Roos called it a "Tasman sisterhood" in the post match interview, and if this is the future of women’s rugby in Oceania, bring it on.
Coming into the match as underdogs, the Waratahs didn’t play like it, matching the Blues physically and going the distance, the fixture having all the hallmarks of several great sevens clashes over the last decade between the Trans-Tasman nations.
The hosts hit the ground running early thanks to a Brittany Merlo steal leading to a Maya Stewart try, but when the visitors came back with two tries of their own, the hosts refused to go away, the score 17-12 at halftime.
Even more impressive was the second half, the Waratahs producing a phenomenal defensive effort that saw them make 205 tackles, with the sides a try apiece in the second half.
Even though small moments of execution proved the difference in the end, it’s the sort of performance that will give the Australians an enormous confidence boost to build on.
Considering both sides are the respective champions, the close nature of both domestic seasons in 2026 suggests the much-talked-about merging of the competitions may seem more likely with every passing year.
The merging of sevens and XVs have proven hugely successful in both respective domestic competitions, and in the final, those stars stood up.
The Blues got over the line thanks to the finishing skills of Katelyn Vahaakolo, backing up her Aupiki title-clinching try with two scores tonight, the second on halftime critical for the Blues to get the win.
Braxton Sorensen-McGee also impressed at fullback, beating six defenders and making two line breaks to give the Waratahs an abundance of headaches.
However, the hosts had plenty of stars of their own, Tia Hinds and Piper Simons both performing well in scrumhalf, with Waiaria Ellis putting her blossoming skills from both formats to good use, scoring a try and unleashing a strong backline.
With two late omissions for the Waratahs, their replacements in NextGen 7s stars Edie Burke and Lusiana Vesikula were impressive in the backline, and despite not getting much ball, Maya Stewart made it count when she did, scoring one try and making seven carries.
It came down to one percenters between the two sides, and for the Super Rugby Aupiki champions, their post-contact metres, ability to spin the ball wide, and focus on the ruck proved critical to shut down the hosts’ momentum.
Making nine line breaks in the first half, the Blues' ability to get the ball out wide saw them beat 30 defenders, with 11 turnovers managed at the ruck.
Despite this, the Waratahs' defensive pressure forced 13 handling errors, with their discipline also proving costly, conceding double the amount of penalties as the hosts.
Ultimately, though, their composure proved enough as the Waratahs pushed deep late into the game, delivering in key moments to hold onto their seven-point lead and win.
While a loss is still a loss, the Waratahs should leave Leichhardt Oval feeling like they have taken a massive step forward - delivering an 80-minute performance that saw them in the hunt until the end.
After going down by 12 points early in the second half, the Waratahs didn’t lose composure, matching the Blues’ intensity for the entire game with good defence, and delivering excellent pressure on attack when they got the ball.
The 205 tackles in defence was a massive standout, the side using the 42 per cent possession they had to match the Blues for territory.
Critically, the set piece continued to develop, bettering the Blues in the lineout, while their scrum grew into the game and dominated in the final quarter; and critically, their maul proved their biggest weapon in several moments.
Ultimately, small lapses in execution, such as kicks not going out, the Blues attacking the ruck, and matching the visitors' speed proved a bridge too far.
But ultimately, it is a result the side should use as a building block: if they can be right in the contest against the top New Zealand domestic side, that means they can beat them too.
It was perhaps inevitable given what the next month looks like for both sides that this match would be seen as a precursor to the second O’Reilly Cup fixture.
But, even though New Zealand have secured the Trans-Tasman silverware for another year, the match will be a dead rubber in name only, which much to be gained for the women in gold - especially after tonight, with selections now coming into play.
Despite the result falling the way of the Blues, the fight shown by a Waratahs side stacked with Wallaroo talent suggests there might be more to the upcoming fixture than what first appears.
Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland will mark the 100th Test match for the Wallaroos in their history - milestone to recognise given they had only played 55 matches at the start of the decade.
With the match also marking the first fixture for the new Wallaroos coach, whoever is selected will take confidence that the players at their disposal can stick with some of the best stars in the world - and maybe, sooner rather than later, secure an historic maiden win.
