Bronze at last for Matildas as latest Suncorp sporting greats memorial revealed

It’s not a statue, more like a plaque. Everyone has their mouth open and it’s hard to make out who’s who despite costing $330,000. But at least the Matildas now have a bronze.

Tameka Yallop at the new Tribute to the Matildas at Suncorp Stadium.

It’s not a statue, more like a plaque.

Although art experts would describe the new public monument to our mighty Matildas as a “frieze’’ or “bas relief’’.

What the legendary football team, which came within a whisker of an unprecedented podium place at last year’s World Cup, think of their new 6m by 2.5m likeness at Suncorp Stadium is not known.

Everyone has their mouth open, although the company commissioned to execute the piece based it on a photo of the team shouting in joy after a vital goal.

And good luck working out who is who. Even a fan at Wednesday’s launch, who is very familiar with the team, struggled to identify stars such as Tameka Yallop. And Yallop was standing in front of the artwork.

That was despite costing a cool $330,473 (including GST).

It is also on the opposite side of Suncorp Stadium to the forecourt with its famous statues of Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga and Arthur “Artie’’ Beetson.

But at least the Matildas now have a bronze after Sweden deprived them of third place with a 2-0 win.

Former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last year announced the bronze tribute, the first representing female athletes at Suncorp Stadium.

There was debate at the time over whether one tournament, admittedly the best ever performance by a male or female Australian football team, warranted such immortalisation.

And particularly at the spiritual home of rugby league.

Tameka Yallop at the new Tribute to the Matildas at Suncorp Stadium.

But Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman told Matildas players, family and fans at the launch on Tuesday that women “could not be if they could not see’’ talented players honoured like male players often were in the media or, in this case, rather awkwardly in bronze.

Ms Fentiman has made a point of commissioning more statues of female achievers in all fields after young Brisbane westside resident Malia Knox appealed to her in 2021 when she discovered there were only a handful of (non-royal) female statues in the city.

Matildas forward Sharn Freier (left), Tameka Yallop and her daughter Harley Rose at the unveiling. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Star Matildas player Tameka Yallop, who was present at the opening with her young daughter Harley, said she was proud there was now another public statue to inspire young girls and women.

Nearly half of the 2023 World Cup Matildas squad were from Queensland, including Yallop.

“They are role models who will inspire thousands of girls to pick up a football and play the game,” Ms Palaszczuk said last year.

“It’s only fitting that we recognise all they have achieved with a permanent tribute.”

Malia Knox wrote to Shannon Fentiman in 2021 asking why there are only two statues of prominent (non royalty) women in all of Brisbane. Picture: Supplied

Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman said the bas relief would be a “permanent reminder” for children as they enter Suncorp Stadium that they “can do and be anything”.

Sports Minister Michael Healy said: “The Matildas have inspired more women and girls to get involved in football, with a record 44 per cent increase in female player numbers statewide following the World Cup.”

A Sport Department spokesperson said it commissioned Brisbane-based Urban Art Projects (UAP), which it described as a global leader in public art, to design, manufacture and install the tribute featuring 11 full-sized players.

“This work will inspire Queenslanders, young and old, for decades to come,’’ they said.

In comparison a statue of North Queensland Cowboys immortal Johnathan Thurston outside Townsville’s Country Bank Stadium was understood to have cost less than $100,000.

During the 2023 World Cup tournament the Matildas were based in Brisbane and played three times at Suncorp Stadium, including their inspiring quarter-final.

Brisbane-based Urban Art Projects was commissioned by the state government to deliver the tribute.

Unlike the other individual statues dotted at the stadium, it used a large scale cast bronzing technique to capture an image inspired by the iconic moment Cortnee Vine scored during the quarterfinal.

The state government yesterday also announced two Matildas matches against Brazil would be played at Suncorp Stadium on November 28 and on December 1 at the Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium.