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Women's State of Origin

Published on: June 2019

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-106136

Women's State of Origin

Dr MARJORIE O'NEILL (Coogee) (15:42:11):

The State of Origin is not just a matter of importance, it is a matter of pride. It is an honour for me to speak in this place today on this matter. I acknowledge the member for Hawkesbury who invited me to the Pie of Origin, which was an opportunity to eat some very tasty pies but also to raise funds for the Children's Hospital at Westmead. The State of Origin is referred to as Australia's greatest rivalry. It is one of Australia's premier sporting events. It attracts a huge television audience and usually sells out stadiums in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and this year Western Australia. It is the pinnacle of rugby league and the country's biggest sporting rivalry.

When it comes to the State of Origin we often forget to talk about one of the significant cohorts of those who are playing this beautiful game—our women. I take this opportunity on the eve of the Women's State of Origin to talk about our girls who will be running out on Friday night at North Sydney Oval. Many members in this place may be upset about the fact that Latrell Mitchell is missing from the men's State of Origin selection but I point out that another Rooster is missing from the women's side—Ruan Sims, who has been ruled out because of injury. Ruan was nominated as a finalist in the NSW Women of the Year Awards. She is a leading figure, promoting not only the game of rugby league but also mental health and wellbeing. Ruan Sims is a firefighter by trade and also works as a Channel 9 National Rugby League sideline commentator. During my own playing career I had the honour of lining up against Ruan, but it is much more enjoyable watching her play rather than being a speed hump on a field.

Then there is Stephanie Mooka, who has been on the cusp of selection for the past six years but has not quite made this year's selection because she cannot afford to go to camp and to take time off from work. That is part of a bigger problem that I would like the House to address: the inequality that exists between our female and male sports stars. Despite my sadness in not seeing some of my favourite players run out this Friday, I am extremely excited to hear the stories of our debutantes who will be playing. I particularly mention Kezie Apps, who has been named captain of the Blues team.

Born in Bega, Kezie began her juniors career at Bega Roosters at the age of 12 but was forced to stop playing due to age restrictions. In 2014 she returned to league, playing for the Helensburgh Tigers. In 2016 she won the women's Dally M award and is now playing for the St George Illawarra Dragons. I conclude with a final comment for thought. Currently Sportsbet has our women paying $1.18 versus $2.00 for Queensland. Alternatively our men are paying $2.60 versus $1.48 for Queensland. Don't get me wrong, I love our boys in blue and I also love the Roosters' favourite son, Freddy Fittler, but we all know that if you want a job done well give it to a girl. I know that they are going to restore pride to New South Wales. Best of luck, ladies. Up the Blues!

Mr MARK TAYLOR (Seven Hills) (15:46:13):

This Sunday game two of this year's State of Origin series will be played in Perth at the brand-new Optus Stadium. The game born in New South Wales is now taking its greatest spectacle across the Nullarbor. Given the momentous occasion this is for Western Australia, I am very pleased to speak in support of the matter of public importance raised by the member for Coogee. It is certainly not the first time our great game has been played interstate, although I think all members can agree that at times we wish we had not told Queensland about our great game. I have no doubt that taking the State of Origin to Perth is a win for fans of the game across the entire country.

State of Origin has been played in Victoria on eight occasions and in California once but it has never been played in the west, despite the Western Australian Reds playing in the Australian Rugby League in the 1995 and 1996 seasons before being rebranded as the Perth Reds in the 1997 Super League. The Reds played their games at the famous WACA cricket ground but—just as cricket, Australian rules football and major concerts have done in the past 18 months, rugby league will make the transition down the road to Perth's colosseum, the brand‑new Optus Stadium. Game three of the series will be played at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday 11 July. The planning process for the redevelopment of ANZ Stadium has begun as the New South Wales Government continues to deliver world‑class venues for the State, further enhancing our position as a global and sporting destination. Members in this place and 30,000 western Sydney locals will remember the official opening of the western Sydney stadium, known as Bankwest Stadium, on 22 April this year when the mighty Parramatta Eels overran the Wests Tigers.

The Government is committed to ensuring that we not only attract the greatest rivalry in sport and all the other spectacles to grace our stadiums, but also that weprovide the pathway and the infrastructure to showcase our junior talent and women's sport. As the good member for Coogee has mentioned, this Friday night our women will go head to head with the girls from Queensland in the second annual Women's State of Origin at North Sydney Oval. I believe quite a number of members of the House will be there, including the member for North Shore and the member for Miranda, as well as the great Governor of New South Wales. What great support there will be at North Sydney Oval. The 2019 game will no doubt showcase skill and pride as 40 of our country's top representative players from New South Wales and Queensland battle it out for the historic title.

Last year's inaugural Women's State of Origin was an incredible occasion at a packed out North Sydney Oval, with more than 700,000 tuning in to watch New South Wales take on Queensland. The New South Wales Government is proud to be investing in the Women's State of Origin for the second year in a row. By doubling the Active Kids rebate the Government is encouraging young people to stick with the sport of their choice. I know that the rebate has been very popular in my electorate of Seven Hills. I ran into a family at Lalor Park whose kids play for the Kookas Junior Rugby League Club in my electorate of Seven Hills. The mother of three was at the Service NSW centre at Blacktown processing the Active Kids rebate, which provided $100 for each of her children. The players' registration was $105. This lady walked out of Service NSW with rebates that enabled her three kids to have footy boots for $15 and they were ready to play. She said it was the first time in her life she had got the rebate, that it was fantastic and easy to access, and that it had made a big difference in her life. Returning to the State of Origin, I want to mention David Klemmer from Toongabbie and Wade Graham, who came from Hills Sports High School at Seven Hills. I am sure all members will join me in wishing the Blues the very best weekend. I support the matter of public importance raised by the member for Coogee.

Ms LYNDA VOLTZ (Auburn) (15:50:28):

This weekend we have a double dose of one of the country's great rivalries, the State of Origin. I am proud to have the New South Wales Rugby League headquarters based in my electorate of Auburn. It is an area with a proud history in rugby league, with players like Tommy Raudonikis, John Dorahy and John Donnelly, who called Lidcombe Oval home while proudly wearing the blue jersey against Queensland. The New South Wales teams that run out this weekend represent the great diversity of rugby league in our State. The daughter of dairy farmers in Bega and the son of a single father in Taree are our two leaders. We have brothers from Sydney's northern beaches with Serbian heritage and a young mother who started playing rugby league in Helensburgh in 2015 and who has developed into one of the best fullbacks in the women's game. That is what sport can do for a community: It can unite us all.

On Friday night our women's New South Wales team takes on Queensland in the second State of Origin battle. The Blues won last year's inaugural battle and have won the past three interstate games. In total, eight players are wearing the blue jersey for the first time. New captain Kezie Apps leads a quality team whose strength and depth illustrate the growth of women's rugby league in our State. After Kezie leads the Blues out on Friday night her former Bega Roosters teammate Dale Finucane will make his debut for the Blues on Sunday in Perth. He is one of two debutantes in a new look Blues team, which coach Brad Fittler hopes will make an impact in this series. While the Blues fell short in the first game, everyone knows each game is a different battle at this level. A tough task lies ahead against a strong Queensland side but any team with the speed and skill of Damien Cook, the evasiveness of James Tedesco, the brute force of Tariq Sims and Tyson Frizell and the lightning pace of Josh Addo‑Carr is hard to stop. As a State, this weekend we will unite behind the Blues. Good luck to Kezie, Boyd and their teams. Go the Blues!

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (15:52:35):

By leave: I thank the member for Coogee for raising this matter of public importance today. While many people in this place were very excited to don the scarves in support of the Blues in the last sitting week, for me it was fundamentally about supporting our women at the upcoming State of Origin this Friday night. It was incredibly exciting for me as the member for North Shore to have the inaugural women's State of Origin played at North Sydney Oval, a beautiful space that has one of the best atmospheres for any sporting game. Around 7,000 people were at the inaugural game last year contributing to a cacophonous roar for our girls. In the last 10 minutes or so of the game a huge chant for New South Wales went out across the stadium. We won by only about four points but it was a great outcome for our girls.

When the girls arrived at the stadium for the game and got off the bus they spoke to us about the impact on them to see the number of people crowding around, wanting their autographs and wanting to talk to them. It shows how far women's sport and women's sports leadership in our community have come. It is magnificent to see so many young girls in particular who view them as icons and want to emulate their skills and talents on the field. I thank the member for Coogee for raising this matter. I will see her on Friday night on her visit to my electorate of North Shore to watch the game. I will be excited to be joined by the Minister for Sport, the Governor and many members of this place. I wish Kezie and the girls the best of luck. Let us hope we can keep the shield in New South Wales.

Dr MARJORIE O'NEILL (Coogee) (15:54:12):

In reply: I thank the members representing the electorates of Seven Hills, Auburn and North Shore for their contributions to the debate. New South Wales is hosting the event on Friday night and the Premier of Queensland will be attending. I know that our girls will show her what's what and send her home hanging her head—even though she is a friend of mine. There is only one thing left to say: Go the Blues!