NRLW 2024: Reflecting on Karina Brown’s journey and legacy as her playing career draws to a close

Women’s rugby league wouldn’t be what it is today in Queensland without Coast great Karina Brown. We reflect on her vast impact as her career draws to a close.

Karina Brown celebrates with the Burleigh Bears. Picture: Vanessa Hafner/Burleigh Bears.

Long before Karina Brown became the Gold Coast Titans inaugural NRLW player, she was already a great of Queensland Rugby League and a key figure in its development.

Brown played a crucial hand in the establishment of women’s programs at the Burleigh Bears and then the Brisbane Tigers.

Roy Leoni, who is now Burleigh’s pathways development manager, was Brown’s inaugural coach at the Bears in 2012.

“She’s always been very motivated, when she put her head toward something and thought about something she stuck to it, she was an integral part of starting that Burleigh female pathway to what it is today,” Leoni recalled.

“She was very fresh, very young, very motivated, and could play some football.”

He recalled someone that “played above her weight”.

“She wasn’t the biggest footballer when it comes to football, but she’d have no fear,” Leoni said.

“She’d be doing her kick returns and those kind of things and just have no fear and run 100 miles an hour back into the line. I said to her ‘you’ve got to a little bit smarter, you’re going to be banged up, if you can do a little bit of footwork around the line you’re not going to get bashed up as much.’

“She could run very fast, and her biggest trait was she was very brave and had no fear.”

Karina Brown in her Burleigh Bears colours, she is also a foundation player at the club. Picture: Burleigh Bears.

The Bears women’s program would go on to establish a dynasty, winning seven premierships in 10 years.

“She was always a leader who girls looked up to, she always presented herself and wanted to create that family environment, we’ve got a lot to thank her for in terms of what she’s done for Burleigh from day one,” Leoni said.

“She was a big part of our success.”

Brown’s illustrious 14-year career has since included two World Cup win with the Jillaroos, nine games for Queensland, and 21 NRLW games across the Sydney Roosters, New Zealand Warriors, and Gold Coast Titans.

She is set to be honoured by the Titans when she features in their final game of the season on Sunday, and will don the number one jersey, which is a nod to the fact that she was Gold Coast Titans NRLW player no. 1 when the club was established in 2021.

Gold Coast Titans NRLW coach Karyn Murphy with Karina Brown ahead of her final with no. 1 NRLW jersey she will don in her final game. Picture: Supplied.

“It hasn’t fully sunk in yet,” Brown said.

“I don’t think it will until the weekend when the final siren goes, whether I’m on the field or not, I’m going to be part of the group so I think it’ll hit home pretty hard.

“It’s just incredible and I just I absolutely love the Titans and everything that they stand for and bringing the community together.”

When Brown first pulled on a Queensland jersey back in 201o, she did so alongside now Titans coach Karyn Murphy.

Karina Brown of the Titans is tackled during the 2023 NRLW Grand Final match. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

“To have her be part of my journey the whole way from start to end is really special and I’m just so grateful that she brought me along to the Titans and that she’s believed in me,” Brown said.

“She could have pulled the pin in week one when I did this (calf), she gave me every opportunity to be able to run out again and I’m really thankful to her for that.”

“It’s just been really special.

“Everyone’s love and support and especially at the awards night … just being able to tell my story and just reflecting on my story and being able to play a little my part in women’s rugby league history is pretty special.”

Originally published as NRLW 2024: Reflecting on Karina Brown’s journey and legacy as her playing career draws to a close