The upcoming National Rugby League Women's Premiership is set to be history-making with a record number of Indigenous talent on and off the field.
The 2022 season will see Indigenous players represent 15 per cent of the league, while every team has an Indigenous coach on staff.
Jumping back in the blue and gold he wore as a player, Parramatta great Dean Widders is coaching the inaugural Eeles team alongside assistant coach Darren Borthwick, whilst former Indigenous All Star and St George-Illawarra premiership winner Jamie Soward is at the helm of the Dragons.
With two world championships under her belt, Bo de la Cruz is this season’s assistant coach for the Broncos, and assistant Indigenous All Stars Coach, Jessica Skinner is the Newcastle Knights assistant.
Dean Widders is the inaugural coach of the Parramatta Eels NRLW team. Source: Parramatta Eels
There's also Roosters physio Melinda Dennis and Titans strength and conditioning coach Jayden Chadburn.
Raising the bar
A key player in the NRL’s Indigenous Pathway Strategy, Jillaroos coach Brad Donald said the league is aiming to match the Indigenous participation figure of 20 per cent at grassroots level.
Donald said the target is expected to be achieved in a “year or two”.
“That is going to be expedited by us having coaches and staff that understand what it is like potentially to be an Indigenous player from a really remote region or regional town,” he said.
The coach said the push to grow the Indigenous coaching staff came down to the saying, “you can’t be what you can’t see”.
“We are trying to develop everybody but this is something that hasn’t had enough focus on it. Since we have focused on it there are now Indigenous coaching staff with every team,” he said.
Widders said Donald has “raised the bar” for the league.
“Brad has worked hard with our Indigenous programs to really raise the bar, which was needed, for our players to be given a chance to play in the NRLW. He has worked hard with our coaches and set that bar high with that too,” said Widders.
“Now we have been able to identify that every NRLW club will have an Indigenous coach on their staff, which was unheard of a few years ago.That achievement has not occurred by fluke, it is down to the program that Brad has set up and the buy in he has had in the All Stars.”
Donald chased Chadburn, Dennis and Skinner for their positions.
Knights assistant coach Jessica Skinner Source: Newcastle Knights/James Ward
Superstars in shining armour
A Barkindji woman from Trangie, Skinner is a pioneer when it comes to pathway programs. Alongside being Knights assistant coach, Skinner is also the First Nations Gems mentor and was an assistant for the Indigenous All Stars.
She juggles the responsibilities with a full-time role in education and two young kids of her own.
Skinner began coaching locally in far west NSW before being picked up by the Jillaroos staff in 2018.
“I had the opportunity to coach with Brad and the Prime Minister’s XIII and then continued my development through the All Stars program and their Indigenous pathways last year, which then led me to being head coach of the First Nations Gems,” she said.
With her eyes on one day stepping into head coach position with the Indigenous All Stars, Skinner said it’s powerful to see NRLW really leading the way for Indigenous inclusion.
“It is clear that the elite women’s game is leading the pathway process in this game for Indigenous coaching staff, and there are a lot more starting to come through now too,” she said.
For the assistant coach, watching young Indigenous kids tap into opportunities to play the sport, is why she does what she does.
"That's one of the biggest things for me, and what I’m so passionate about, making sure those kids out there can see that there is something there if they want it,” she said.
"When see someone climb the ranks and get where they want to go - it makes you so proud. You know you're always proud to put on a jersey, but when statistics tells you can't achieve it, putting it on is just that much more incredible. It warms the soul.”
Skinner will lead Newcastle Knights into the opening round on Sunday, facing off against Parramatta Eels on home soil.
Of the 24-woman squad, 21 players will take to the field – with eight players making their debut, including Torres Strait Islander and Indigenous All Star Tahlulah Tillett at halfback.
Newcastle Knights player Romy Teitzel speaking to students at the NRLW season launch. Source: Newcastle Knights/James Ward
“She’s an up-and-coming talent who’s been untouched. She was in All Stars and is on the climb in her career at the moment,” said Skinner.
Tillett joins a handful of Indigenous talent at the Knights, who will be led out by All Stars captain Caitlin Johnston.
"This is her community so she's just so proud to wear the blue and red. Seeing her coming up through the ranks and really marking herself in the game is something I feel really privileged to watch,” said Ms Skinner.
The assistant coach said watching so many young Indigenous women take the field to play at the elite level, inspires her.
"I feel really proud as a First Nations woman to have that many girls in this elite space in a club that has supports them for who they are and celebrates who they are,” she said.
"It's so good to watch NRLW grow. At the season launch there were so many young girls asking players questions. These young ones can see it, they see there's a pathway. These girls are going to inspire generations and generations from here.”
