QLD Women tackle important Issues

QLD WOMEN SPORT COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW
NELLIE DOHERTY CUP, SUNCORP STADIUM, JULY 30

THERE will be splashes of pink and patches of purple on top of the usual maroon, when Queensland?s Women?s Rugby League team contests the annual Nellie Doherty Cup next Sunday, July 30.

Launching the female equivalent of State of Origin for 2006, Queensland skipper Karyn Murphy was this morning joined by Maroons legend Wally Lewis outside Suncorp Stadium.

In the past Lewis has spoken glowingly of the skills of Murphy and the standard of Women?s Rugby League in general.

At the meet and greet between footballing royalty, full-time police officer Murphy revealed that, for the first time, Queensland would wear purple armbands on the field to support the Football Fans Against Sexual Assault (FFASA) campaign.

The colourful Maroons team, unbeaten by New South Wales since 1999, will also wear pink ribbons on their tracksuits.

The ribbons signify the QWRL?s long-standing association with the Kim Walters Choices Program, run by the Wesley Hospital in support of people affected by breast cancer.

Murphy?s club team ? league-leading Ipswich Brothers ? last night held a Think Pink Charity night at their Raceview headquarters.

?Obviously, being female, these issues (sexual assault and breast cancer) are fairly close to a lot of our players? hearts,? Murphy said.

?But beyond that, we are a team of workers who mingle in the community each day and we know how widespread the effects can be.

?We are proud to wear the colours of these two organisations, just as much as we are in wearing the maroon of our State and putting women?s rugby league in the public eye.?

Murphy paid tribute to Lewis for his encouragement ahead of the big clash, to be held prior to the Brisbane Broncos Round 21 NRL match against the Wests Tigers.

Source: qrl.com.au