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Queensland Maroons win 18-14 over NSW Blues in Women's State of Origin game 3

Courier-Mail

2 days ago

Sport
Courier-Mail

Queensland Maroons win 18-14 over NSW Blues in Women's State of Origin game 3

Don't miss out on the headlines from NRLW. Followed categories will be added to My News. 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. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer > 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.'

Sarah Togatuki praised after playing State of Origin days after sister's death

ABC News

2 days ago

Health
ABC News

Sarah Togatuki praised after playing State of Origin days after sister's death

NSW coach John Strange doubts any other player could have matched Sarah Togatuki's strength in playing State of Origin only days after her sister died. The famously energetic Blues prop took the field for Origin III on Thursday night after losing her sister Jean on Saturday following a short stay in hospital. Togatuki played only a 14-minute cameo that was cut short by a head clash as the Blues fell 18-14 to Queensland but the Tigers star, who has played 11 Origin games straight since her debut in 2020, was hailed as a key member of the camp. "She's just an infectious type of person," captain Isabelle Kelly said. "She wasn't in camp with us for a bit and we really missed her and missed her presence. 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. I just know she would've done her family so proud. "She's done all of us so proud with the strength she's had and I feel really honoured and lucky to be able to pull on a jersey alongside her." Togatuki dedicated the Blues' series-clinching win in Game II to her sister, saying she "would've been the loudest in the stands" at the Sydney Football Stadium if not for her admission to hospital. Days before Game III, Togatuki shared an emotional tribute to her "sister, best friend and biggest cheerleader" after her death. "It still doesn't feel real," she wrote on Instagram. "She was only admitted to hospital two weeks ago, and now she's gone. The pain is overwhelming, especially for her four beautiful babies." Togatuki said her older sister was "the quiet glue that held our family together" after the death of their brother Junior in 2015. "She vowed to protect us all, and she truly lived that promise," she wrote. "She always showed up. Always put others before herself. Always stood on loyalty and love." The 27-year-old said "the village" Jean created was rallying around her four children now. At full-time after Game III, Tokatuki was visibly emotional, spending time with the many members of her family who attended the match in Newcastle with a sign reading "#1 Supporter" under a picture of Sarah and Jean. Strange paid tribute to the strength of character shown by the Wests Tigers prop in taking the field for the Blues, who won the Origin series 2-1. "I don't know if anyone else could've done that. I don't know if I could've," the coach said. "It was really important to her that she spent time with her family but it was really important to her and to her family that she come out and represented them tonight. "To show that strength of character is a real testament to who she is as a person and the love she has for her family and the game. She's an outstanding player and an even better person." The Blues wore black armbands for the game and Togatuki wrote Jean RIL (Rest In Love) on her wrist. Do you have a story idea about women in sport? Email us abcsport5050@ ABC Sport is live blogging every round of the AFL and NRL seasons in 2025. ABC/AAP

Sarah Togatuki: State of Origin star who was already reeling from her brother's suicide stuns teammates with incredible act just days after her sister died

Daily Mail

2 days ago

Health
Daily Mail

Sarah Togatuki: State of Origin star who was already reeling from her brother's suicide stuns teammates with incredible act just days after her sister died

They may have lost the match, but New South Wales star Sarah Togatuki showed incredible bravery just to play in Thursday night's Origin clash in Newcastle. The Blues forward showed unbelievable to take the field just days after the sudden death of her sister Jean, which followed the tragic death of her brother Junior, who took his own life in February. Jean passed away on Saturday following a brief hospital stay, leaving the Togatuki family devastated. Despite her grief, Sarah played in Thursday night's match against Queensland, contributing 42 metres in a 14-minute stint before a head knock forced her off the field. At fulltime, she was visibly emotional, surrounded by loved ones who had come to support her in Newcastle. The Blues team wore black armbands in Jean's memory, standing in solidarity with their grieving teammate. Coach John Strange praised Togatuki's courage, expressing doubt that any other player could have matched her strength in such circumstances. '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.' Captain Isabelle Kelly, a longtime NRLW teammate, said the squad had supported Togatuki through the tragedy. '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. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sarah Togatuki (@salatogatuki) Sarah let all the emotion flow out at fulltime after climbing into the stands to be with her family The extended family all travelled to Newcastle to support Sarah with a sign saying that Jean was her #1 supporter '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.' Jean has been honoured with an outpouring of tributes on social media, including from her daughter. 'I never thought I had to say this speech so young but I promise to fulfill the dream you and I shared I promise to do you proud I will live in your name loud and proud,' she wrote. 'The stadiums have been quiet without and also the house hold , you've made a massive impact on many lives and I am glad to be named your daughter mum I love you deeper than the sea could ever get.' Sarah herself posted a lengthy tribute to her 'best friend' and also revealed it came after the loss of her brother. 'In the blink of an eye, our family's world changed. My beautiful big sister gained her wings and has gone to be with our brother JNR,' she posted. The tributes flowed on social media including a heartbreaking post from Jean's daughter '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. 'She wasn't just my sister. She was my best friend, my biggest cheerleader, and the quiet glue that held our family together. 'After losing our brother, she vowed to protect us all, and she truly lived that promise. She always showed up. Always put others before herself. Always stood on loyalty and love. 'I'm numb. Still struggling to find the words. My sister carried a light that touched so many. She had a way of making everyone feel seen, heard, and loved. If she loved you, you felt it deeply. 'She was a mother figure to many and a steady anchor in every phase of life she walked through.'