Souths Logan unveil honour board acknowledging the great Karyn Murphy and past and present players

Karyn Murphy and past and present female players and coaches of Souths Logan rugby league club acknowledged by the unveiling of an honour board revealing the club’s 20th anniversary dream team and celebrating representative players.

Karyn Murphy at her old stomping ground, Davies Park.

When it came to rugby league, it was not often Karyn Murphy was stopped in her tracks.

But last Saturday afternoon at Davies Park, arguably Australia’s greatest female player was momentarily floored by the unveiling of the Souths Logan women’s rugby league honour board.

For more than a minute Murphy stared intently at the honour board after a curtain was dropped to reveal the club’s 20th anniversary dream team, past Australia and Queensland representatives and club officials.

Karyn Murphy next to the women's honour board which was unveiled at Souths Logan's clubhouse, West End, on Saturday.

It was a lot to take in for Murphy, whose name stood atop the 100 game club (192 matches for South Logan)) and atop the Test match list (27 matches for Australia).

Murphy was also named captain and halfback alongside current elite players Ali Brigginshaw, and accompanied in the side by current stars like Steph Hancock and Heather Ballinger.

Souths Logan players were Broncos premiership winners. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The code has come so far since Murphy was the women’s rugby league flagship player in 1998, whose play-making was likened to the immortal Wally Lewis.

“I grew up following Souths as a little girl and women’s rugby league was not even thought of,’’ Murphy reflected while glancing over her beloved Davies Park at West End.

“I used to sit on the hill here and support the club.

The Souths Logan women's 100 game club, headed by Karyn Murphy.

“When women’s rugby league started in Brisbane, a friend of mine who also supported Souths said: “Hey, lets go down to Souths and see if we can get a team.’

“So that is how it all started in ’98.

“We won the first two years here.’’

Some of the Australian representatives from the Souths Logan club, headed by Karyn Murphy.

Murphy said it warmed her heart to see where the women’s game was now and where it was heading.

“For a lot of years we seemed to take one step forward and two backwards.

“Even playing for Australia, up until 2013, we had to pay our own way.

“And so it has really been the last four or five years that it has really taken off and gone past any expectations that we all had.

“It is really good to see the support the game has got now.’’

Annette Brander is a Souths Logan players. (AAP Image/David Rowland)

She said a major breakthrough was allowing girls to play league beyond the age of 12, and she applauded the genuine pathway for women in league now.

GET A FITBIT WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO QUEST COMMUNITY NEWS & THE COURIER MAIL

“Young girls can see who the Jillaroos are, who New South Wales and Queensland are, and that they have a genuine pathway now,’’ Murphy said.

Ali Brigginshaw. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Souths Logan rugby league CEO Jim McClelland praised past coach Dave Leat and current coach Rob Brough for their “enormous” contribution to women in the code.

“It is testimony to people like that (Leat) as to where the game came from and now where it sits,’’ he said.

Souths Logan Magpies rugby league coach Rob Brough.

He said Brough won five grand finals in a row and “probably laid the platform for the game in Brisbane’’.

He also praised past players. “There was always a real family involvement and the culture they created in the early part is the culture everyone embraces now.’’

GET LOCAL NEWS STRAIGHT INTO YOUR INBOX