Inspired by the fact women are featuring in the Rugby League World Cup alongside the men for the first time ever, I compiled a list of the ten most influential women in rugby league.
Raelene Castle – Former CEO of Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
While officially no longer in her position as Bulldogs CEO after resigning earlier this year, the continuing influence and legacy of Raelene Castle shouldn’t be underestimated.
In 2014 she became the first female to be appointed CEO of an NRL club and brought considerable sports admin acumen to the job, having previously been the boss of Netball New Zealand.
During her three years at the Dogs Raelene forged a formidable network of supporters and alliances across the code.
In Raelene’s case it is the breaking of the glass ceiling and her success in her position that may remain her greatest long-term influence on the game.
Catherine Harris – Chairperson of Harris Farm
Much like Katie Page with Harvey Norman, Catherine Harris’ company, Harris Farm, has been a long-time supporter of rugby league.
Catherine is currently a member of the ARL Commission alongside Professor Megan Davis. Having previously held the position of Trustee of the SCG Trust, Catherine has influence with one of the most important stadium organisations there is.
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Kate McClymont – Senior reporter, Sydney Morning Herald and the Age
While I’ve resisted adding more journalists to the list due to the legacy of Debbie Spillane, Kate McClymont deserves a special mention. For some fans of rugby league, though, her inclusion may be tantamount to treason.
McClymont is fearless. She has never been a dedicated rugby league or even sports writer, being listed by Fairfax as ‘senior reporter’ – talk about an understatement!
She was responsible for breaking the Bulldogs salary cap scandal in 2002, for which she deservedly won a Walkley. As a reminder, her story, with one round of the season remaining, revealed that the Dogs had breached the cap by more than $2.1 million over the course of three years. They were fined $500,000 and stripped of all but four of their competition points, finishing last that year.
The impact of this investigation still resonates. When Melbourne and Parramatta were found to have committed similar breaches, their transgressions were held up for comparison with Canterbury.
The scrutiny of the cap and the role it plays in keeping the game competitive – no club since Brisbane in 1993 has gone back to back in a unified competition –
is the legacy of Kate McClymont.
Kasey Badger – Referee
With some stiff competition from Belinda Sleeman and with me feeling I could choose only one on-ground official, Kasey got the nod for a couple of reasons. While no female has yet taken full ref duties in a first-grade NRL match, when it does happen, it is highly likely it will be Kasey Badger.
Kasey has been a touch judge for a couple of seasons now and was reportedly close to a call-up to referee a top-grade match in 2017, but we’ll have to wait until next year to see if and when it happens.
I picked a referee because, well, who has more influence on the actual games in this entire list than the person with the whistle in their hand?
Tallisha Harden – Australian Jillaroo
Speaking of competition for a spot on this list, how about those that actually put their body on the line?
Jillaroo Tallisha Harden earns her place because I’m 99 per cent certain she has no concept of time. How else to explain how she redefines what is possible for a human to fit into each day?
League? Check. Rugby? Check? Ambassador and advocate for Indigenous youth? Check. Speech pathologist? Check.
Harden missed out on selection this year in the Wallaroos squad for the Women’s Rugby World Cup, but in her early 20s she has plenty of time to make that right. Where she finds said time, we’ve no idea – but we would love to find out.
The players have given us so much joy in the world cup so far, and with the women kicking off this week, that happiness will only increase.
Kezie Apps, Ruan Sims, Simaima Taufa – I considered them all, but in the end I plumped for just one. In concluding our list with the fantastic talents of Tallisha Harden, I sincerely hope that one day the female players become the true influencers on this list in years to come!
dressingshed.com
Roar Rookie
You're possibly right. Or is it probably? It was an early stab at it, hopefully we can do it again and make it user generated.
dressingshed.com
Roar Rookie
Womblat, We're actually super happy to get a response like this as it shows interest and passion. The Roar decided to split our original post from our blog in two pieces, which means it loses some of the context which would answer some of your points. In particular, the first line is missing. Essentially, we admitted to some ignorance at the beginning which motivated us to ask for some feedback via our Twitter and do some research. We also categorically wish for a day when a list like is pointless, redundant and meaningless. But lists like this - opinion pieces and written entirely subjectively, being the sum total of our thoughts, conjured from what little we have for brains - are in fact necessary to point things out and sing praise so that those that do not, as we were been guilty of, pay more attention in future. The list was meant to be those who had influenced the whole game and in so compiling and limiting to ten we attempted to cover all angles - business, admin, reporting and on the field. As such we were left with one player spot and chose Talisha for the breadth and potential of her influence. It was meant in no way to discount anyone who missed out and indeed when posting and then discussing on twitter a host of other names were thrown up. In fact, from that discussion, a large news site asked for contributors on womens sports and is commissioning stories of the back of it. Another good result we say. What we're hoping is to do this annually, ask for submissions and have a vote. If so, we hope you follow our progress Womblat and take part. Sounds like you'd be an awesome contributor!
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Womblat, isn't that the point of articles like this that are just that - opinion pieces. If I were writing a list of women of influence in league, I probably would have included Yvonne Sampson, Linda Burney and Ruan Sims for example. I've written pieces this year about Hannah Hollis, Kezie Apps, Maddie Studdon - just because they are more recent does it make them less worthy? I don't think it hurts the women's game at all to celebrate women that are part of it. Perhaps after reading this article a reader has been introduced to a new name or learnt something. Karyn Murphy is an absolutely incredible woman. As is Steph Hancock. But there are a million other names that could be mentioned as well. What about Katrina Fanning - first Indigenous woman to ever wear an Indigenous jersey? Many of the women on this list are doing their job - some are doing it in their spare time. They do it not to be mentioned on lists that suggest they are influential, but just because they love the game. I don't see how recognising that is harmful.
Womblat
Guest
This list is subjective. One player in ten names? Alongside glorified secretaries, bureaucrats and journalist hanger oners? It's articles like this that gives women's League no credit for it's history and hard won credibility. Many names on this list are standing on a history forged by others yet here they are celebrated as heroes. Heard of Karyn Murphy? Australian captain for nearly 20 years and who headed up the NRL Integrity unit? She's ten times the woman than ANY on this list in my opinion. Stephanie Hancock? Daughter of legend Rohan who played 20+ years for the Jillaroos? They both earned their piece on any list like this but not if schmoozing high profile buddies is a pre-requisite. These were examples of real heroic women who made their mark playing, supporting and loving the sport way beyond their default CEO, lawyer or journalist roles.
not so super
Guest
i am not sure if influential is the right word, maybe prominent?