As a born and bred Queenslander, I have a special place in my heart for Rugby League. Some of this comes from a love of the game that was instilled in me from the time I slid over for my very first try under the sticks (rugby league parlance for being birthed), and some of it comes from the fact that the game has been a helpful bonding tool for me, my dad, and my three brothers. Talking about the footy can mean a slightly longer conversation before the inevitable phone pass over to mum. And now it is once again NRL Grand Final week, and the Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys will be vying for victory. As a Queenslander, there is only one other thing could improve this situation, and that is a victory for Queensland women as well – that is, besides me winning more conversation time with my father. And coincidentally, this might happen this evening at the official annual player’s night of nights, the Dally M awards.
For the first time in its history, the Dally Ms will include a Female Player of the Year award. Yes, not only will it be acknowledged by the NRL that female players exist AND play rugby league, but one of them will actually get an award! This development comes after participation in women’s rugby league across NSW and Queensland jumped a massive 26 per cent this year, and has become an area that will (with any luck) continue to be nurtured into the future. But more immediately, Queenslanders Steph Hancock, Karina Brown and Jenni-Sue Hoepper will be vying for the best female player crown against the lone New South Wales player Simaima Taufa. I like those odds, but may the best woman win (even if she is from New South Wales).
A couple of women will be competing against men instead of each other in Victorian grade cricket this summer, as batter Jess Cameron and wicketkeeper Emma Inglis become the first women to play in a Prahran Men’s XI (alongside their state and international women’s cricket duties). Jess Cameron is well-known as a huge hitter, and helped the Australian women’s cricket team the Southern Stars regain the Ashes this year.
The Southern Stars were back in the news this past week, after wicket keeper Alyssa Healy announced that it was a “scary prospect” that the team has been so successful, whilst still being so young. Australia now holds all the trophies that they regularly contest, as well as being World T20 and one-day champions. With most of the players being 25 or younger, their opportunity for long-term world domination is well within reach, and their opportunity to make me personally feel very old is already complete. There will be a chance to see Southern Stars’ players regularly when the Women’s National Cricket League season kicks off on October 9th. Australian captain, Meg Lanning (23 years old), will be playing for the VicSpirit and has predicted a closer competition than ever, with international and Southern Stars players distributed more evenly amongst the teams than in other years.
There sadly won’t be another chance to see one of Australia’s most accomplished football players in any more international games, with Matildas goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri announcing her retirement from international competition a week after being inducted into the Football Federation Victoria Hall of Fame. Bubs (as she is affectionately known) played in four World Cups, racked up 86 international caps, and was Matildas’ captain when the team won the Asian Cup in 2010. She has also drawn attention to the plight of female footballers, having to sell off Matildas memorabilia after finding herself without a club and financially struggling when trying to return to football after having a baby in 2013. But she didn’t let a little thing like that (an adorable baby) keep her down. She went on to succeed in her comeback, join Adelaide United, win the W-League’s goalkeeper of the season, and was then selected to play in the World Cup in Canada this year. BAM! She will still be appearing in the W-League this season, so there are thankfully more opportunities for spectators to see one of Australia’s most tirelessly dedicated and hard-working players in action for a little while still.
Spectators can also enjoy the upcoming Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) when the season begins on October 9, with brand new team the South East Queensland Stars taking on Bendigo in Brisbane. Basketball Australia is racing against the clock to seal a television or streaming deal for the league in time for the start of the season, but seemingly remain confident there will be some form of broadcast available. In the meantime however, if you are near Adelaide, Bendigo, Dandenong, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Townsville or Canberra, a live broadcast where you go to a game and watch it with your eyes and enjoy it will be available to you throughout the season.
It is also worth putting your eyes on this ad for the Women’s National Basketball Association (America’s women’s basketball), which is being touted as one of the best commercials for women’s sport ever made: