How footy legend Gorden Tallis helped the growth of women's professional rugby league in Australia
Speaking ahead of her 50th appearance for the Broncos this weekend, the veteran acknowledged how far the sport has come on local shores.
'Before my first Jillaroos game in 2009 against New Zealand we had street lights lighting up the field,' she recalled.
'And then ahead of the 2013 World Cup we also didn't have the Coat of Arms on our jerseys because we weren't recognised as an Australian team.'
Then prompted a bemused Tallis to step in.
'He came in to present our jerseys and said: 'what the f*ck is this sh*t',' Brigginshaw told News Corp.
'He took our jerseys and said he'd come back when they had the Coat of Arms on them. And he did.'
To be a prominent player in the Australian sporting landscape, the NRLW are focused on the end game.
The competition has increased to 12 teams, and games are screened on Fox Sports.
And as the female stars often point out, they are not in direct competition with the NRL - and never will be.
It is a slow burn, with the majority of players still juggling work with their modest salaries.
Previously it was reported the minimum NRLW wage last year was just $34,000 - but it will increase to $50,600 in 2027.
But given only four teams entered the inaugural NRLW competition in 2018, the growth has been impressive.
And if the NRLW patiently follow the lead of the Matildas - who are arguably the nation's favourite sporting team - anything is possible.
'We know what's at stake,' said Parramatta Eels prop Kennedy Cherrington when quizzed on where the NRLW currently sits.
'We've worked so hard to be here. We see the fans who rock up and how they idolise us – that responsibility on our shoulders is something we regard highly.'
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Telegraph
29 minutes ago
- Telegraph
How Australia stunned the Springboks with a comeback for the ages
Some matches follow the most predictable script. Others flip it in spectacular style. Australia's exploits at Ellis Park on Saturday belong to the latter category. Their comeback from 22-0 down against the Springboks, at a venue where they had not won since 1963, was jaw-dropping to witness in real time. It has taken a while to digest and decipher, too. Notwithstanding signs of progress over the British and Irish Lions series, a Wallabies victory was difficult to foresee. In the 19th minute, when Siya Kolisi surged over with South Africa rampant, a triumph for Joe Schmidt's men over the back-to-back world champions seemed impossible. An hour and 38 unanswered points later, Australia had stunned their hosts. This is how they did it. Early encouragement At full-time, a beaming James O'Connor diplomatically described the opening quarter as a 'scratchy' one for his team. The fly-half insisted, however, that there had been good signs. Schmidt offered a window into the mindset at half-time, when the Wallabies were 22-5 down. The experienced head coach reminded his players that they had won the second 20 minutes 5-0. Repeat that in the third quarter and they were in the game. Australia were troubling their rivals' rush defence even amid South Africa's early blitzkrieg. Here, in the fifth minute when they are already 7-0 behind, Australia bounce back towards the far touchline two phases after a line-out on that side of the field. Having carried in midfield from the set piece, Len Ikitau returns to his feet and wraps around Tom Hooper to dink a left-footed chip in behind Edwill van der Merwe: This next play comes from Australia's own half just beyond the half-hour mark. Max Jorgensen, trailing from the blindside wing, is the man to watch. O'Connor's pass to Ikitau is fired across two back-rowers, Fraser McReight and Hooper: Jorgensen then helps overload the defence by taking a pull-back from Ikitau that goes behind the run of Joseph Suaalii: As it happens, a kick through from Tom Wright just dribbled over the try-line into the dead-ball area in this instance. But there was enough for the Wallabies to feel confident if they could keep their composure. A vital response Australia's first try was instigated by a box-kick from Nic White, the 35-year-old scrum-half who has postponed his retirement. Jorgensen does brilliantly to regather the ball ahead of Manie Libbok in a catch that is reminiscent of his try in the first Test of the Lions series: Although an in-field offload does not go to a gold shirt, the Wallabies react well. Billy Pollard chops down Malcolm Marx and James Slipper swoops to jackal after Lood de Jager has taken out White to leave the ball exposed: Breakdown disruption and accuracy in possession was a vital pillar of this display. South Africa lost five of their 102 attacking rucks, with McReight typically influential, whereas Australia lost just one of 77. Indeed, they hit touch from this penalty and zig-zagged through seven phases. Will Skelton and Taniela Tupou were prominent, but the Springboks were not significantly dented: Schmidt teams do tend to be able to retain the ball for long sequences and at the seventh ruck (R7 on the map), South Africa are penalised when Kwagga Smith dips towards the ball in a manner that Ben O'Keeffe does not condone: With penalty advantage, the Wallabies score through Dylan Pietsch: Rewinding slightly, watch Ikitau and O'Connor scan the Springboks' defence on the scoring phase: They back themselves to play through it, with Ikitau feeding his team-mate and then arcing around to receive an offload that O'Connor throws blind. This camera angle shows the vision and dexterity: O'Connor, on the way to Leicester Tigers for the upcoming season, had not featured for Australia in a Test match for three years and had not played at all since June 21. No wonder he called this his favourite game for the Wallabies. In the second half, an emboldened Australia kept chipping away. Disciplined but desperate disruption Schmidt is renowned for teaching players to read referees and for Australia to concede just four penalties was extraordinary, because they fought for everything. Such a low tally of penalties reflects their resilience in the scrum and around the field. As well as scrapping on the floor, they caused South Africa to lose five of 16 line-outs. Here, just before half-time, Wright trusts Andrew Kellaway to drift across and tackle Kolisi. Ikitau keeps covering and fells Andre Esterhuizen when an offload is thrown inside. Wright mops up the loose ball and Van der Merwe is penalised for flopping on top of a prone opponent: This next clip comes from the 50th minute, with Australia 22-12 down and five metres from their own line. Eben Etzebeth lines up a carry into two far smaller men in Jorgensen and Kellaway. You can also see Tate McDermott, moonlighting on the wing. Note the starting position of Hooper: He swings around to arrive at the tackle area and, because Franco Mostert has driven down to the ground, Hooper is able to address the ball. The Exeter Chiefs-bound back-rower absorbs the attempted clear-out of Ox Nche and shows a strong lift to O'Keeffe, earning the penalty: While Ikitau was off the pitch tending to a cut, Australia assembled a centre partnership of Suaalii and Kellaway with McDermott on the wing. Their flexibility under pressure was highly impressive. Suaalii's interception came while this makeshift back line was on the pitch. A few minutes previously, he gets a look at Libbok's expansive distribution from close to the edge of the defensive line: When South Africa bid to impart width a little later, Suaalii picks off a somewhat rushed pass. Pieter-Steph du Toit and Marx are in a huge amount of space… …but Suaalii's opportunism pays off handsomely. Attacking principles pay off Sometimes a side will change tack to haul themselves back into a contest. More often, though, it pays to stay patient and keep the courage of your convictions. It felt like the Wallabies trusted their primary plans to come off rather than pivoting drastically away from them. In the first half, for example, Harry Wilson was rocked by a two-man tackle from Marco van Staden and Esterhuizen after a short tip-pass from Nick Frost: He kept offering himself as a flat runner, though, and had his reward when Australia burst through the blitz thanks to Angus Bell's short ball. Nche is flat-footed and Etzebeth is pressing past the ball towards Wright. Wilson's angle dissects those two forwards beautifully: If you can keep your nerve, it is possible to pick holes through the middle of an aggressive defence. Bell, a bustling runner, was part of a bench that comprehensively eclipsed the Springboks replacements. He was integral to Wilson's second try, moving the ball towards Wright after White's ballooning box-kick is recovered by the effervescent duo of Jorgensen and Hooper: Wilson's tireless support rewards the evasion of Wright, who is formidably slippery in these situations: And Australia extended their advantage from the next restart, which is superbly taken by a soaring Suaalii: A couple of phases later, Bell carves past several defenders… …and South Africa end up with both centres close to the near touchline with openside wing Canan Moodie. Libbok is in the back-field with Damian Willemse, leaving Kurt-Lee Arendse in a vulnerable position on the far 15-metre line. Etzebeth and Du Toit are mobile athletes, but O'Connor clearly senses a chance to release Jorgensen – because South Africa are likely to stay aggressive and push from out to in: Sure enough, the Springboks do keep pressing. That makes their line narrower and a looped pass releases Jorgensen, who confounds Libbok with mesmeric footwork: Australia's last try neatly encapsulated their blend of defiance and dynamism. It begins from a quite perilous situation. Suaalii has gone hunting for another interception but Willemse comes away with the ball. Zane Nonggorr, the replacement tighthead prop, and Hooper are in the middle of a disjointed defensive line and South Africa have a fleet of backs poised to break out. Watch Jorgensen: He stays composed and backpedals, keeping his eye on the ball-carrier as Esterhuizen trucks up the pitch. When a pass is delivered to Jesse Kriel, Jorgensen spins and sprints. This forces Kriel into a hooked pass, which Esterhuizen cannot hold: Wright has another unstructured scenario, and dances through to score: Celebrations were somewhat muted, because the Wallabies know that they must front up in Cape Town next week. South Africa will have been profoundly stung by this result. Rassie Erasmus was fiercely critical at the final whistle and will no doubt lead a forthright review. Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe and Handre Pollard may return to the Springboks line-up. Wilson and Pietsch, meanwhile, appeared to pick up worrying injuries for the Wallabies. The odds will be stacked against Australia again. But after a miraculous evening in Johannesburg, which showcased rare steel and togetherness as well as brilliant attack, they would not have it any other way.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
‘Shutting them up' – Darts star blasts social media ‘haters' after losing to Luke Littler in New Zealand Masters final
MIKE DE DECKER blasted social media 'haters' during the New Zealand Masters. The World No.19 reached the final of the Australian Darts Masters last week before losing out to Luke Littler in Auckland. 2 2 De Decker's place at the World Series events had come under scrutiny following a challenging few months on the oche since his World Grand Prix triumph. The Belgian thrower admitted the online abuse from trolls can be harsh on everyone in the sport but he isn't letting it derail his focus. He said: 'When I reached the final in Australia and I lost to Luke (Littler) I opened up social media and I didn't see one bad comment. 'I was thinking 'where are all the haters now?' 'Everyone is slagging you off when you have a bad performance and forgetting what you've done before. 'It's not only with me but it is with everyone. They have been slagging off Luke Humphries as well. 'Look at what he's done the last two years. 'So, it was a big confidence boost to reach the finals and shutting them up to be honest.' The 29-year-old was dumped out at the first hurdle in the World Cup and exited the Matchplay in round two which led to a bombardment of 'cruel' messages from online trolls. He added: 'Social media is a hard world to live in. 'After the World Cup as well when me and Dimitri (Van den Bergh) lost in the group stages, social media was a really tough place to be on. 'It's how you cope with it, but some reactions and messages are just too cruel to be left out.'
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
Wallabies count injury cost of stunning South Africa win as Edinburgh Rugby star wins second cap
Australia lose players after incredible comeback in Johannesburg Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Australia's sensational 38-22 win against South Africa at Ellis Park to kick off their 2025 Rugby Championship campaign has come at a cost after it was revealed that winger Dylan Pietsch and prop James Slipper will miss next weekend's rematch. Pietsch scored the Wallabies' opening try to spark a comeback from 22-0 down, the visitors landing 38 unanswered points to stun the Springboks in their own back yard and give them their first win in Johannesburg since 1963. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The two teams meet again this Saturday at Cape Town Stadium but Pietsch has been ruled out after breaking his jaw in a collision with South Africa's Siya Kolisi on 32 minutes, while Slipper failed an HIA assessment at half time and is subsequently unavailable. Utility back Ben Donaldson has also left the camp due to a groin issue. Australia took some knocks during the win over South Africa. | Getty Images Australia head coach Joe Schmidt has subsequently called up Filipo Daugunu, Rhys van Nek and Hamish Stewart as cover, and he hopes that key forward Rob Valetini can be involved after missing out in Joburg with a calf issue. The Wallabies' comeback came as major surprise, particularly as the Boks raced into 22-point lead inside 16 minutes. Schmidt suggested that the hosts became complacent. 'I've coached enough teams because I'm really old and I've had teams that get a, I wouldn't say a soft start but a very, very rapid start,' he said. 'It can sometimes cause a bit of a lapse in effort and concentration. I think they just gave us a little bit of belief.' Venter wins second South Africa cap Edinburgh Rugby prop Boan Venter won his second cap for South Africa, coming on as a 59th-minute replacement for Ox Nche, but he and his teammate were unable to fend off their visitors.
