NRLW
1 week ago
"Absolute warriors": NRLW players hailed on Women in League milestone
By SEN
Download the SEN App
Your Home of Sport, In your Hand
NRLW players must be regarded as "absolute warriors" for what they do, according to Harvey Norman CEO Katie Paige who helped launch the 20th year of Women in League Round by unveiling a striking portrait series of the biggest names in the sport.
Speaking at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, Paige, alongside outgoing NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and players Taya Preston and Tiana Penitani Gray, spoke of her pride in the evolution of the game as she launched Harvey Norman's 'The Captains'.
The collection of images has been captured in spectacular fashion by artist Cherine Fahd’s to bring together contemporary art and sport to celebrate of the leaders of the NRLW.
“15 years ago I saw an exhibition, it was black and white photography of NRL players, it would have been maybe 12-16 players, straight on photography, they were true warriors,” Paige said.
“It was the most powerful thing I had seen. I want these women to be looked at as warrior women. I want the world to know.
“It’s important to put a contemporary view on what you’re doing, we are always looking forward.
“The women put their bodies and their lives on the line, the women that play the game are doing other things as well. We have teachers, students, mothers and I want their stories to be told and to tell it in a different way.”
It was somewhat serendipitous that the unveiling would be considered Abdo ‘s final official engagement with the NRL before he pivots to lead Tennis Australia given the impact he has had on the development of the women’s game.
“We have loved working with Andrew,” Paige continued. “The work he has done around the women’s game. If you don’t have the commissioners and the people around the table supporting, it’s not going to happen. Andrew has been the driver.”
For Abdo, the exhibition represents an enormous amount of pride in a sport he has driven from its infancy.
Now entering its ninth season, the NRLW has enjoyed an incredible growth rate in recent years. For Abdo it will be one of his greatest legacies.
“It’s particularly emotive and special,” he said. “I look back at 13 years of seeing this game evolve and grow. It’s been phenomenal.
“Think about where you were in the world 20 years ago, to say we would be here, we have women leading, women administrators’ women that are driving the game forward. That is what the day is about and it’s a privilege to be part of that.
“It’s one thing to talk about the future, it’s another thing to do it. She is making the conversation and culture of the game better.
“You have to take a moment to see how positive and vibrant the future looks. I have goosebumps and pride for the talent that exists.
“Imagine where we will be in 20 years from now. This is an extremely proud moment for me as someone that has rugby league in their DNA.”
“Women have been paying for 100 years but never been visible. In recent years, the HOF acknowledging the pioneers of the game have been great. In 2017 I remember the conversation with Katie saying things like “why not, what’s stopping us”.
