Libby Cook-Black on why she joined Northern Pride board

The lack of representation was the prime motivation behind a former Jillaroos gun putting up her hand to join the Northern Pride board.

THE lack of representation was the prime motivation behind former Jillaroos second-rower Libby Cook-Black putting up her hand to join the Northern Pride board.

Cook-Black was appointed to the board last month, providing an Indigenous and female voice backed by years of experience in rugby league.

“There was a bit of talk going around town that there would be a position becoming available, and I spoke to a few women who I thought could make a difference,” Cook-Black said.

“A few of those turned it around and said I should think about it.

“I was a bit disappointed by the way women’s footy has been handled over the years so I thought why not.”

The proud Darnley Island product did it all as a player, having represented the Indigenous All Stars, Australia and Queensland in 2016.

She also had a stint in rugby union after Australia’s triumph at the Rio Olympics, playing for the Queensland Reds in 2016-17.

That career can be charted back to the Far North, but the lack of progress in women’s rugby league over that decade is where some of that disappointment comes from.

The Cairns District Rugby League ran its first women’s tackle competition for a decade in 2021, and some of that came after Edmonton’s Jessica Addo spoke out after it was originally slated to run under a different format.

Libby Cook-Black.

She spoke for women across the region who simply wanted to play rugby league. For Cook-Black, who watched with awe as Addo led that public charge, it was a familiar sight.

“I remember how it was 10 years ago,” Cook-Black said. “I went away, had a playing career, professional career, came back and we are still having the same conversations.”

The region has still produced quality footballers, with FNQ products Tahlulah Tillett (Cairns), Steph Mooka (Cairns) and Romy Tietzel (Tully) all playing NRLW or Origin in recent years.

That’s not to discredit the work done by a number of important backers of women’s footy in the region, but given it is the fastest-growing part of the game and fellow north Queensland centres Townsville and Mackay have well-established competitions, this region is behind the eight ball.

And that makes Cook-Black’s timing impeccable.

Libby Cook-Black. PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

The Pride have fielded a team in the QRL Under-19s competition for the past two years, providing a pathway to the North Queensland Gold Stars in the BMD Premiership and a future Cowboys presence in the NRLW.

“Jumping on to the board was the right thing at the right time,” Cook-Black said

“Where we’re at now and what the women’s space looks like in the next few years, it’s a right time to have a woman pushing for women.”

Her involvement isn’t limited to the board, with Cook-Black serving as an assistant coach for the Cairns women’s Foley Shield team as well.

And she will also be busy promoting the launch of the FNQ Rugby League’s junior girls competitions, with Under-13s, U15s and U17s to launch on the same weekend as the Foley Shield in Townsville.

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Originally published as Libby Cook-Black on why she joined Northern Pride board