Maroons entertainer Robinson ready to launch new era

West Australian

25-04-2025

Queensland winger Julia Robinson is a try scoring wizard but she wants to add acrobatics, pizzazz and theatre to the way she scores them.
"In the men's game you see the wingers and how athletic they are when they score the try," Robinson told AAP.
"I want to bring that into the girls game and do what the boys do."
The 27-year-old will play her eighth State of Origin match in the series opener on Thursday night at Suncorp Stadium. She is one of the great entertainers in the game and has a stellar try-scoring record.
In NRLW football, Robinson has 23 tries in 34 games. For Australia, the flyer has notched 10 tries in five internationals. In seven attritional State of Origin matches, Robinson has three tries.
The aerial leaping, match-winning try by Melbourne NRL winger Xavier Coates against the Warriors last year - one of the best in the modern game - is the template for the kind of tries Robinson would like to score.
"That was an incredible try that Xavier did and I feel like that can be the next step for us girls, doing those amazing dives for the tryline," she said.
"That will take the girls' game to the next level, being able to do those kind of tries. We have already had some incredible tries and I feel like the game is going to get bigger and better each year."
Origin footy is so tough and close that acrobatics are not always on the cards. Robinson will do her job against NSW, aerial or not.
"Whenever I go into a game I want to do my job and that is to catch the ball, run hard and score tries," she said.
Robinson's name is written in indelible ink before any team she is available for is selected, whether that be the Broncos, Maroons or Jillaroos. She has come a long way in a short space of time.
"I look back on 2018 as my first time playing rugby league and where I am today," she said.
"I am very proud of myself with how far I have come but I wouldn't be able to do that without my teammates as well teaching me, the fans and my coaches as well.
"I feel like that person that wanted to get better every year for my teammates and team."
Robinson, with an eight-year career in the army, performed the Ode of Remembrance before the Anzac Day eve clash won 42-18 by Brisbane over Canterbury.
"It is such an honour to do The Ode and a big responsibility. I was very nervous before doing it and my heart was pumping but I feel very honoured to do it at Suncorp," she said.
"I joined the (Australian) Defence Force in 2017 before I started playing rugby league in 2018 and I feel they have complemented each other. I have learned a lot from Defence and I have brought that into my rugby league.
"Discipline and resilience we have to have in both, and that has helped me in my career."