In 1907, James Giltinan, Victor Trumper and Henry Hoyle went to Dally Messenger’s mother and asked permission for Messenger to switch over to the new code. Annie gave her blessing and the rest is history.
Even then, mum was the word.
Over a century later, not much has changed. The role women play in our great game can’t be underestimated. The annual Women in League round is here once again and this week we celebrate all the wonderful things that women contribute to the game.
The week has taken on extra meaning in 2012 with the terrible news that Sonia Farah had passed away on Sunday. Sonia was the mother of Wests Tigers captain Robbie, with the New South Wales Blue understandably missing Sunday’s game against the Sydney Roosters.
In Farah’s darkest week, the rugby league community has come together.
The National Rugby League sure is awesome. But what is it without women like Sonia? A mother who watched her son play his first ever game of footy way back when and right through to captaining his club and the representative honours that have come since.
Wests pay tribute each year to a special lady, which will now be known as the Sonia Farah Memorial Award.
“The award has been presented for the past two years to honour a woman who has contributed to our club and it will be now renamed after Sonia,” Tigers boss Stephen Humphreys told The Telegraph on Tuesday.
Where would any of us be without the support and love of our mothers or our partners or our sisters?
As a seven-year-old, my mother Anne took me to my first training session. We had to take two buses and a seemingly endless walk to Worrell Park in Ruse. It wouldn’t be the last time we took that trip. She never stopped me from playing footy or said the commute was too much.
There are mums in the country who drive hours on end just to get their kids to a game. All because their kid wants to play footy.
When I was lost and nowhere near focused my grandmother forked out $1200 for a writing course she wanted me to do.
After a Mad Monday many moons ago, I was lost and very intoxicated somewhere near Thirlmere.
Guess who took my call? Mum.
To donate: The Concord Cancer Centre, c/o Dr Prunella Blinman, Department of Medical Oncology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Hospital Road, Concord, 2139.
paula
Guest
I'm a mum of two sons, now 32 and 29.started in junior league with my eldest Simon when he turned 4. Did my coaches certificate when my second son Jeremy started playing. Coached for 6 years. We took two teams to the Sydney Football statium 7's an 10's.We than went to senior league Simon started playing first grade when he was 16, he played in the winning grand final in 2007 undefeated, they also won the Claton's Cup that year and that was the end of group 17. I devoted my life to my boys and league and I really miss it .In all these years I was the secretary and chief fun raiser of both Junior and Senior league. Along with my husband Martin we were given the great honour of being made life member.
CoreyRosser
Roar Rookie
Nice article, good to see a link right back to the start of this great game. The NRL certainly has not had a great image in terms of how our players/officials have treated women in recent times, but this round is a good idea, as long as we back it up with treating women with respect.
Chris Atkinson
Guest
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oikee
Guest
Now this is the area i think David Gallop exiled at, and should one day get recognition for the effort he put into Women in League. The pink week is fantastic. I can see this becoming a even bigger part of the game. Love the pink Panthers.
turbodewd
Guest
Women in League round: sounds good. Now can they hold games at times which are family friendly? 7:30pm kickoff isnt feasible for many mums with small kids. And speaking of family friendly, for the women in league round maybe we can remove the excessive gambling ads from everywhere. Gambling is not family friendly, indeed it breaks up many a marriage.
steve b
Roar Guru
Yes without the mums sisters and partners their would be no league,,,they are champion people who give up their time willingly to help help from everthing to kiosk to admin .I remember the crazy trips my best mates mum used to take us on 7 in the back of their cleaners van sitting on our bags because their were no seats,, rain hail or shine every training day and most matches . And without this champion women 6 of us would have never played the game,,,and 4 going on to play grade was one of her greatest achivements she would tell everybody,, and without me those boys would have never made it ..she was spot on.God rest her soul..A true champion of the game,, women in league deserve every accolade they get ..And ill bet their are many storys much the same as mine where a mum, sister, or partner, is doing the very same thing.. Women in league true champions !!!
Jammy
Guest
I'm a big fan of the NRL's women of league round and salute all the mum's who take their kids to games every week, as well as the female fans officials, administrators and players. My wish for WILW: Big League magazine drops the cheer girl of the year award. In fact dropping cheer leaders altogether wouldn't be a bad idea. Despite the obvious eye candy factor do they really add anything to games or league? -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.