Queensland Maroons win 18-14 over NSW Blues in Women's State of Origin game 3
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Sarah Togatuki wore the pride of her family on Thursday night, taking the State of Origin field in Newcastle less than a week after the tragic death of her older sister, Jean.
The inspirational NSW forward has been privately dealing with the sudden death of her sister, who was admitted to hospital before NSW claimed the series in Origin II in Sydney a fortnight ago, before passing away suddenly on Saturday.
In a show of her immense strength and love for her family, Togatuki came off the bench for the Blues in Thursday night's 18-14 loss to Queensland at McDonald Jones Stadium.
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One of the most popular players in the NRLW, the 27-year-old Tigers star was supported by her Blues teammates and coach John Strange.
'I don't know if I could have done that (after) losing a sister on Saturday,' he said after the game.
'I had a chat to her about spending time with her family, but it was also really important to her and her family that she came out and represented them.
'So to show the strength of character to do that, is a real testament to who she is as a person and the love she has for her family and the game that she plays.
'She's certainly not underestimated by any of us for what she does. Outstanding player and even better person.'
Skipper Isabelle Kelly, who has played alongside Togatuki in the NRLW for years, said the team rallied around her over the past few weeks.
Sarah Togatuki embraces her family. Picture: NRL Photos
'When you know Sala, she's an infectious type of person. She wasn't in camp with us for a bit and we missed her, we missed her presence,' Kelly said.
'She puts everyone before herself and she's just really inspiring.
'A lot of us were saying we wouldn't have been able to do what she has done this week.
'She was a huge inspiration for us leading into this game and I know she would have done her family so proud, even though she came off, she's done all of us proud with the strength that she has.
'I feel really honoured and lucky to be able to pull on a jersey alongside her.'
Togatuki's night ended early after taking a head knock after just 13 minutes on the field.
There were emotional scenes at full-time as she embraced her family.
There were emotional scenes in the stands. Picture: NRL Photos
Jean was known to be the loudest and proudest supporter in the stands.
'In the blink of an eye, our family's world changed,' she wrote on Instagram.
'My beautiful big sister gained her wings and has gone to be with our brother JNR.
'It still doesn't feel real. She was only admitted to hospital two weeks ago, and now she's gone. The pain is overwhelming, especially for her four beautiful babies.'
Meanwhile, Queensland skipper Ali Brigginshaw has defiantly declared she wants to keep playing representative football after enduring a horror few weeks of online abuse including death threats and calls for her to retire.
Fresh off an 18-14 victory over NSW in Thursday night's State of Origin dead rubber in Newcastle, the Maroons captain said she will not pander to social media bullies and wants to keep playing as long as she's earning a jersey.
'I do want to keep playing on, I think people just look at your age and think that's enough, there was still comments out there tonight about when I'm going to retire and I still love my footy and if I get picked I get picked, but I'm not saying people should pick me just because I've been here before,' the 35-year-old said after putting Chelsea Lenarduzzi over from behind the ruck to score the matchwinning try in the dying minutes of game three.
The Maroons celebrate after winning Women's State of Origin game three. Picture: Getty Images
'I want to prove I can play in this jersey. Hopefully I did that tonight.
'I'll do whatever it takes for this jersey. I'm really proud to represent Queensland and that's what hurts, surely people see how proud I am to do that.
'I do anything I'm asked, I play any position, I don't carry on. And to see how upset my family are to see the things said about it, that's what hurt the most.'
Maroons coach Tahnee Norris backed her call, saying Brigginshaw has earned enough credit throughout her 17-year rugby league career, which started back in 2009.
'It's her decision, it's not mine. Ali is a true Origin player and a leader of this team, and I feel for her, she's had a tough couple of weeks, it's just wrong,' Norris said.
'I've got so much respect for her and what she brings to this team, what she's done for women's rugby league and how she's led this group of Maroons players, people don't understand, they don't see that.
'She plays herself into teams and we pick her, it's as simple as that, so it's up to her when she makes that call.
'Utmost respect for how she's handled herself the past few weeks, it's been really hard on her.'
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