A previously devastated Jess Sergis has put NSW's game-two loss into perspective and feels back at full fitness ahead of the women's State of Origin decider.
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Sergis was in the wars during the Sky Blues' 11-10 loss in rainy Newcastle this month, playing through two separate quadriceps injuries and later cramping up in her calves.
She first fell awkwardly following a high tackle from Keilee Joseph in the first half and went down with a corked left quad.
Some onlookers mistook her pain and slowness to regather her footing for concussion symptoms, with match officials sending Sergis from the field for a head injury assessment.
"I wasn't concussed, so I knew I was going to get back on for my team," she said.
"Obviously it was just a little knock to my knee. I'd push through anything, I'm not going to let a bung knee stop me from being out there."
Push through was exactly what Sergis needed to do when she hurt her other leg in a collision with teammate Jaime Chapman.
After that, it appeared Sergis was struggling to walk, much less run.
"My quads were gone and then my calves were cramping in the last 20," she said.
"I was stiff-legged the majority of that game."
At full-time, Sergis was in tears during broadcast interviews after a mostly dominant NSW were sunk by a late Queensland field goal.
After leaving the field, the usually gregarious Sergis could not bring herself to speak to media, such was her devastation at the result.
In the lead-up to the decisive third game of the series, Sergis put her reaction down to a combination of physical exhaustion, and the nature of the loss on home soil.
"I knew we were going to Newcastle, it was a sell-out crowd,'' she said.
"I really thought we were going to go there and get the job done. I think that's why I felt so disappointed.
"I really do feel like we were on top for the majority of that game. To come away with a loss really hurt."
Teammates worried for Sergis in the break between Origin games.
"I've been checking in with her for the last week and a half, just seeing how she's travelling," co-captain Kezie Apps told AAP.
"She's been really positive."
Ahead of the decider of the inaugural three-match series, to be played in Townsville on Thursday, Sergis can look at the NSW loss with a calmer head.
She has also been fit and firing on return to pre-season training with the Sydney Roosters.
"I know in parts of that game we were really good, we were on top, we just need the team to be on top for the whole 70 minutes," Sergis said.
"(The injuries) weren't ideal, but I tried to still do the best for my team.
"I couldn't do a lot on my two legs, but that's in the past now. I feel quite good at the moment."
Australian Associated Press
