State of Origin women to be paid same as men
Queensland women’s coach Tahnee Norris says the QRL’s decision to provide equal match payments to men’s and women’s Origin teams is a game-changing move.
Under the arrangement announced by the Queensland Rugby League on Thursday, the Maroons will pay up to $15,000 to players who take part in next yearâs womenâs Origin clash.
The move is expected to put pressure on the NSW Rugby League to follow suit, with a budget for womenâs Origin to be discussed at a board meeting next month.
The $11,000 payment will include the current $4000 from the NRL for the match, as well as $3000 and $4000 for training camps in the lead up from the QRL.
Norris said the example of Brittany Breayleyâs withdrawal from this yearâs campaign highlighted the need for the womenâs players to be properly compensated for their time and efforts.
Breayley withdrew from the Maroons due to work commitments, a situation Norris believes the pay arrangement would have resolved.
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âYouâve got one of the best players in Australia that had to withdraw from an Origin side and in tears having to do that,â Norris said.
âTo be able to say to the girls that we will support you, we will remunerate you and weâll help you along your journey so that you can actually play football.
âYou can concentrate on playing football and not have to worry about whatâs going on in the background.
âYou can fully dedicate yourself and your time to the sport.â
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The deal does however bring into question what will happen if the series expands to three matches, or if menâs payments return to the $30,000 figure they were before the pandemic.
Norris is set to announce an emerging squad of womenâs players later this month ahead of the first of a series of camps in December ahead of the June 24 clash.
For captain Ali Brigginshaw, who began her career having to foot her own bill to represent her state, the deal is a massive moment in the womenâs game.
âItâs not about the money, we play the game in the same spirit but to be rewarded in that time when youâre away from family and to play the game in the same spirit is huge,â Brigginshaw said.
âIt means we can have the best people playing the game. We donât lose anyone to other sports especially and when youâre away from work, weâre not having girls lose jobs.
âGirls arenât coming into camp stressed because they may lose their job over this.â
Brigginshaw said she had heard from AFLW players over the news, and called on the NSW Rugby League to follow Queenslandâs lead.
âThe NSWRL has always had an extremely strong commitment to the womenâs game and supporting our elite womenâs players, the NSW Sky Blues,â NSWRL boss Dave Trodden told AAP.
âAny additional investment in the womenâs game is a good thing and our approach to the Womenâs Origin match for next year will be the subject of discussion at upcoming board meetings.â
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