Log In

NRLW Champion Ali Brigginshaw Condemns Vile Social Media Attacks

Published 2 weeks ago3 minute read
NRLW Champion Ali Brigginshaw Condemns Vile Social Media Attacks

Upon her unveiling as the Brisbane Broncos co-captain, Ali Brigginshaw delivered a powerful message condemning the vile social media attacks directed at NRL players. She urged those posting comments to consider the profound impact on players' families, stating, “My message is if you’re writing a comment, think about how it would affect your kids or your partner at home, because they’re the people it’s affecting.” Brigginshaw acknowledged her own resilience but emphasized the distress caused when her family is upset by such abuse.

Brigginshaw's remarks followed the severe abuse she received after Queensland’s defeat in the women’s State of Origin series, with her wife revealing that their family had even received messages encouraging them to “kill themselves.” This issue is not isolated, as incidents of threatening comments have also affected New South Wales star Liam Wright and Newcastle winger James Schiller. Brigginshaw lamented that such abuse “does happen to every player,” underscoring the widespread nature of the problem.

The 35-year-old co-captain revealed she removed herself from social media for five weeks after the attacks, calling it “probably the best five weeks I’ve had” and indicating a likelihood of repeating this during the upcoming NRLW season. She explained the psychological toll, noting that even a tough player like herself can be severely affected when facing pressure and personal challenges, stating, “I didn’t expect to feel the way I did.”

The NRL is experiencing unprecedented growth, with television audiences surging to 143,000 viewers in the 2024 regular season and skyrocketing to 521,000 for finals. State of Origin clashes attracted roughly 2 million viewers each this year. This rise in popularity has paved the way for full-time professionalism but has also exposed athletes to a heightened level of public scrutiny and online vitriol. Rising stars, such as teenage dual-code player Shalom Sauaso, will need to learn to navigate this spotlight, with Brigginshaw advising them to rely on support networks rather than engaging with critics.

Speaking ahead of the Broncos' trial against the Papua New Guinea Blossoming Orchids, Brigginshaw acknowledged that while the emotion of losing the Origin series made the abuse harder to bear, its very presence served as a grim indicator of the sport's growing prominence. She stated, “In the end, I thought women’s rugby league has made it. We have those comments, and they’re never going to disappear, and we don’t want them to disappear because it means they’re talking about our game.” However, she reiterated the crucial point that commentators often forget the human element, particularly the impact on players' families. Brigginshaw concluded that social media is a complex entity – a necessity that can also be “terrible.”

Brigginshaw’s strong stance, made alongside the announcement of Tamika Upton as co-captain, aligns with recent discussions on media responsibility. This comes after Maroons coach Billy Slater’s pre-game press conference and his subsequent apology for controversial remarks. Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss supported Slater, emphasizing that wielding a public platform is a privilege and that those in influential positions must use it responsibly. Kiss’s words resonated, highlighting the importance of care and appropriate reminders regarding the mental well-being of individuals in the public eye.

From Zeal News Studio(Terms and Conditions)
Loading...
Loading...

You may also like...