NRLW news: Sydney Roosters cashing in with big sponsors for women’s team

The Roosters’ fully-sponsored 2022 NRLW jersey is a further sign big business is right behind the women’s game as it builds up to an exciting new era.

Pictured at Moore Park in Sydney is Parramatta Eels NRLW star Kennedy Cherrington. Kennedy is joining the call for NSW to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Picture: Richard Dobson

In the latest sign that big business is willing to throw support behind the NRLW, the Sydney Roosters will take the field with a fully paid-up jersey in season 2022.

Steggles will be the side’s front of jersey sponsor, while the club’s newest corporate partner, City Index, has committed to backing both the men and women’s team and will be the NRLW sternum sponsor.

For backrower Hannah Southwell, it’s proof the women’s game is viewed as a viable investment.

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“I couldn’t think of anything better, it just shows how committed the Roosters are to the women’s game,” Southwell said. “It’s going to be a massive year next year, and I think the more airtime we can get on TV, the better.”

Southwell recently become the first female player to join the RLPA board and will play a key part in helping to negotiate a historic Collective Bargaining Agreement for the women’s game.

Roosters players Corbyn Baxter and Hannah Southwell with Tom Brown from City Index. Picture: Roosters digital

“We’ve got the CBA coming up for negotiations for season 2023. It’s massive, obviously we haven’t been included before, in the previous CBAs, so to be included with the boys is massive. I can’t wait to see what happens,” Southwell said.

The NRLW is the only major women’s sport in Australia without a CBA for its athletes.

Roosters playmaker Corban Baxter, 27, is hoping the watershed CBA can generate enough of a financial windfall to allow female players to be contracted full-time as rugby league players.

“Absolutely, I hope it happens soon,” Baxter said. “There is always talk about making sure we do it properly and that we have a sustainable competition, and I agree with that. I think we have proven we have a strong competition, which is why we have new teams.

“Hopefully before I retire we can get to full-time professional, it might not happen but I’m happy to be a part of where we are now. The ultimate goal is for the girls to do this as a full-time professional career choice.”

The team that could finally break Parra’s drought

Kennedy Cherrington has worn the Sky Blue of NSW, will wear the colours of Parramatta in 2022 but it’s the green of the Māori All Stars jumper that has been the most significant of her rugby league career.

Cherrington credits the All Stars fixture, which will be played in Sydney for the first time on February 12 at CommBank Stadium, for helping her reconnect with her Māori culture.

“I feel like I’m somebody now. I feel like I have found myself, as cliche as that sounds,” Cherrington said.

“There is something about culture and heritage, when you are repressing it, it feels different.

“It feels special. I mean no disrespect to the Blues, Roosters or Parramatta jersey but the All Stars Māori jersey for me holds personal significance. I’m representing my family name and my culture, where I come from.”

Proud Maori player Kennedy Cherrington says the All Stars helped her reconnect with her culture. Picture: Evan Morgan

Cherrington stepped up to represent her whānau [family] in impressive fashion, doing so in her native Maori language at the launch of the All Stars match.

Cherrington took the microphone, and to a packed crowd of media, politicians and other officials, gave a traditional Māori introduction.

“I introduced myself in our te ao Māori, our language. It was my name, my iwi [tribe], my hapū [sub tribe], my waka which is my [boat], my river, my mountain. I basically put myself on the map of exactly where I come from in New Zealand,” she said.

Once her obligations with the Māori All Stars have wrapped up Cherrington is hoping to put herself and new Eels teammates on the NRLW map.

The Brisbane Broncos have dominated the competition since it’s inception in 2018, winning three straight titles.

Kennedy Cherrington expects the Eels to give the NRLW a shake in 2022. Picture: Richard Dobson

While Cherrington was hesitant to declare her outfit would be the side to finally end Parramatta’s 35-year title drought, the backrower believes the Eels can give the NRLW a shake in 2022.

“The Broncos have been the pioneers of the NRLW but I don’t think the new teams are getting enough credit. The three teams coming in are very strong and are going to give the competition a shake-up,” Cherrington said.

“Our team culture is thriving at the moment, we’ve had a few get-togethers already. The team culture almost feels like an All Stars camp because that’s how immersed we are … something is fizzing.

“Something is building really nicely there. We are just so excited.”

Originally published as NRLW news: Sydney Roosters cashing in with big sponsors for women’s team