Queensland Representative Player Numbers - Player 1 Karyn Murphy
The women’s game is the fastest growing area of rugby league nationwide – with females in the sport not only being offered more pathway opportunities to play the game, but also gaining wider recognition for their skills.
This year, a special project was undertaken that sought to give each female who has represented Queensland in the Women’s Interstate Challenge their playing number.
Driven by Queensland Female Participation Coordinator Keeown Rawnsley from the NRL, Queensland Women’s coach Brad Donald and Colleen Edwards of the Queensland Rugby League – each woman who has played for her state will now know their player number in a fitting acknowledgement of their sacrifice to play at this level.
With many playing records lost during the 2011 floods that struck the QRL, it took time, patience and a broad-ranging appeal to the network of women’s rugby league supporters to piece together this representative list.
However, when it came to deciding who would have the honour of having the Number 1 beside their name, there was only one choice.
Karyn Murphy played in Queensland’s inaugural Interstate Challenge match in 1999 and she was instrumental in retaining the Nellie Doherty Cup in her final state appearance last year. During that time, she was also captain for all but one of those Interstate Challenge victories.
While she retired from representative football last year with a 16th consecutive victory over New South Wales, she is still heavily involved as a player with Souths Logan and is also a senior investigator with the NRL’s Integrity Unit.
Murphy was presented with a commemorative jersey honouring her service to the game by NRL CEO David Smith at Wednesday’s QRL Gala Dinner.
Download the full list of Queensland’s Female Representative Players here - updated to 2018
For more information, email c.edwards@qrl.com.au
