Latest news with #Brigginshaw
Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
How trailblazer's sacrifices paved the way for NRLW phenom to emerge
As Ali Brigginshaw's historic milestone ensured her name will remain etched in NRLW folklore, the enormity of her early career sacrifices had truly been announced. From her junior days spent unable to feature in a team after an under-12s carnival spent taking on Daly Cherry-Evans, she now witnesses thousands of young girls across Queensland strapping on the boots. 'She has inspired the younger generation, there was a time when someone like Ali didn't have any girls to look up to, but now there are so many pathways – particularly out at Ipswich where she's living,' star Broncos fullback Tamika Upton said of Brigginshaw. 'What she's done for the game is incredible, she definitely paved the way, and she's still going.' But it is the ascent of the competition's next generation who first experienced the building grassroots pathways that has perhaps highlighted the strides made by rugby league's trailblazers so glaringly obvious. Loading As Brigginshaw became the NRLW's first player to hit the 50 game milestone in the Broncos' 38-4 thumping of Parramatta, teenage phenom Shalom Sauaso was starring in her maiden starting appearance. Finishing with 130 running metres and six tackle busts from 11 carries, along with 22 ferocious tackles for no misses, the fellow Ipswich product cemented her reputation as one of Australian sport's most promising talents, having also dominated in rugby union for the Queensland Reds. On the back of the 18-year-old's work through the middle at lock, Brisbane's backline clicked into gear – centres Julia Robinson and Mele Huganga scoring doubles, with the former registering 281 running metres.
The Age
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
How trailblazer's sacrifices paved the way for NRLW phenom to emerge
As Ali Brigginshaw's historic milestone ensured her name will remain etched in NRLW folklore, the enormity of her early career sacrifices had truly been announced. From her junior days spent unable to feature in a team after an under-12s carnival spent taking on Daly Cherry-Evans, she now witnesses thousands of young girls across Queensland strapping on the boots. 'She has inspired the younger generation, there was a time when someone like Ali didn't have any girls to look up to, but now there are so many pathways – particularly out at Ipswich where she's living,' star Broncos fullback Tamika Upton said of Brigginshaw. 'What she's done for the game is incredible, she definitely paved the way, and she's still going.' But it is the ascent of the competition's next generation who first experienced the building grassroots pathways that has perhaps highlighted the strides made by rugby league's trailblazers so glaringly obvious. Loading As Brigginshaw became the NRLW's first player to hit the 50 game milestone in the Broncos' 38-4 thumping of Parramatta, teenage phenom Shalom Sauaso was starring in her maiden starting appearance. Finishing with 130 running metres and six tackle busts from 11 carries, along with 22 ferocious tackles for no misses, the fellow Ipswich product cemented her reputation as one of Australian sport's most promising talents, having also dominated in rugby union for the Queensland Reds. On the back of the 18-year-old's work through the middle at lock, Brisbane's backline clicked into gear – centres Julia Robinson and Mele Huganga scoring doubles, with the former registering 281 running metres.
The Age
20-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘Think how it would affect your kids': Champion's call against vile abuse
Upon her unveiling as the Brisbane Broncos co-captain, Ali Brigginshaw has issued a palpable message to those who have taken to social media in a series of vile attacks on players. 'My message is if you're writing a comment, think about how it would affect your kids or your partner at home, because they're the people it's affecting,' Brigginshaw warned. 'I can cop most things and try not to read them, but when you go home and see your family upset that's when it hits home.' This was the first chance Brigginshaw had taken to address the abuse she received following Queensland's defeat in the women's State of Origin series, with her wife revealing the family had received messages to 'kill themselves'. Incidents of threatening comments issued to New South Wales star Liam Wright and Newcastle winger James Schiller have followed, as Brigginshaw lamented 'it does happen to every player'. Loading The 35-year-old revealed she removed herself from social media for five weeks following the attacks, claiming it was 'probably the best five weeks I've had' and admitting she will likely do the same throughout the NRLW season. 'You can be flying and nothing will affect you, and then that day you wake up when things aren't going your way it can really affect you,' Brigginshaw said. 'I didn't expect to feel the way I did – I always see myself as quite a tough player and am able to cope with most challenge. But in the pressure and the moment I was in, it hit me hard.'
Sydney Morning Herald
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Think how it would affect your kids': Champion's call against vile abuse
Upon her unveiling as the Brisbane Broncos co-captain, Ali Brigginshaw has issued a palpable message to those who have taken to social media in a series of vile attacks on players. 'My message is if you're writing a comment, think about how it would affect your kids or your partner at home, because they're the people it's affecting,' Brigginshaw warned. 'I can cop most things and try not to read them, but when you go home and see your family upset that's when it hits home.' This was the first chance Brigginshaw had taken to address the abuse she received following Queensland's defeat in the women's State of Origin series, with her wife revealing the family had received messages to 'kill themselves'. Incidents of threatening comments issued to New South Wales star Liam Wright and Newcastle winger James Schiller have followed, as Brigginshaw lamented 'it does happen to every player'. Loading The 35-year-old revealed she removed herself from social media for five weeks following the attacks, claiming it was 'probably the best five weeks I've had' and admitting she will likely do the same throughout the NRLW season. 'You can be flying and nothing will affect you, and then that day you wake up when things aren't going your way it can really affect you,' Brigginshaw said. 'I didn't expect to feel the way I did – I always see myself as quite a tough player and am able to cope with most challenge. But in the pressure and the moment I was in, it hit me hard.'
7NEWS
29-05-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
NSW State of Origin captain Isabelle Kelly chokes back tears during emotional post-match presser
NSW State of Origin captain Isabelle Kelly has choked back tears speaking to reporters after Thursday night's series-ending clash, admitting 'I let my team down'. The Blues blew a gilt-edged chance to record a historic 3-0 series whitewash, going down 18-14 to Queensland in Newcastle. Kelly couldn't help but look in the mirror after the match, ruing a walk-in try that she inexplicably failed to ground in the first half. She became emotional addressing the incident at full-time, holding back tears. 'I'm obviously someone that gets quite disappointed when I let my team down, it makes me a bit emotional, like right now,' she said before bowing her head. Jess Sergis helped Kelly save face, crashing over on the right shortly after, before Jesse Southwell gave the Blues a two-point half-time lead finding Jayme Fressard with a cut-out pass on the left. Both sides were guilty of some woeful errors in game three, with Romy Teitzel's opening kick-off going less than 10 metres for Queensland. Blues forward Kennedy Cherrington did not return after half-time, having suffered a knee injury that could impact her NRLW season with Parramatta. '(It's a) PCL or MCL, potentially, but she'll go for scans,' Strange said. 'Hopefully for her, going into NRLW now, it's not too serious.' Menatime, Ali Brigginshaw has shut down suggestions of State of Origin retirement but says Queensland selectors owe her no favours when they consider their team for the 2026 series. It comes as coach Tahnee Norris delivered an impassioned defence of the Maroons captain following critiques of her form and online attacks during the 2-1 series loss to the Blues. The oldest player on either side this Origin series, Brigginshaw struggled to spark the Maroons at halfback in two big losses to begin the series. She was benched for Origin III on Thursday night and came on as back-up hooker, throwing the last pass for Chelsea Lenarduzzi's match-winning try in an improved performance. Brigginshaw's Origin future will no doubt remain a talking point as the trailblazer turns 36 in December and does not hold a contract for 2026. The three-time NRLW premiership winner said she had no plans to retire from the representative arena just yet. 'I do want to keep playing on, I think people just look at your age and think that that's enough,' she said. 'There were still comments out there tonight about when I'm going to retire. I still love my footy and if I get picked, I get picked. 'But I'm not saying people have to pick me just because I've been here before. I want to prove that I can play in this jersey and hopefully I did that tonight. I'll do whatever it takes for this jersey.' Brigginshaw and her wife Kate were targeted with online trolling as the Queensland captain's form waned in the 2025 Origin series. The Maroons utility said the negativity had been difficult to swallow. 'I'm really proud to represent Queensland and that's probably what hurts is people, surely they see how proud I am to do that,' she said. 'I'd do anything. I play any position I've ever asked. I don't really carry on and then to see my family and know how upset they were to see the things said about me, it's probably why it hurt the most. 'But the amount of support that I've had has been unbelievable.' Her own future is likely to come under the microscope following the Maroons' series loss but Norris said she would continue to consider Brigginshaw for selection. Norris felt Brigginshaw deserved to retire on her own terms when she was ready. 'She plays herself into teams, we pick her. Simple as that. It's up to her when she makes that call (retirement),' Norris said. 'But utmost respect for what she's done, utmost respect for how she's handled herself over the last couple of weeks. It's truly been really hard.'
