2GB sports host Mark Levy slammed over State of Origin equal pay comments

A 2GB sports host has been blasted for his stance on equal pay for State of Origin teams following Queensland’s decision to pay female athletes the same as male players.

A 2GB sports broadcaster has been criticised after he slammed Queensland rugby league‘s decision to pay women’s State of Origin players the same as their male counterparts.

Radio host Mark Levy drew the ire of social media users this week when he posted a series of tweets slamming QRL’s announcement.

Levy wrote that while he “supported” women’s sport, he disagreed with the decision to offer female players $15,000 each for the single women’s State of Origin match in 2022.

2GB radio host Mark Levy.

“The women’s team will earn the same as the men from next year, but they don’t bring in the same revenue,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Throwing 15k at the top players gets a headline, but what’s it doing for the growth of the sport.”

“I want to make this very clear – I support, promote and love watching the growth of women’s sport,” he wrote.

Source: Twitter

Social media users were quick to condemn Levy’s comments, including former Labor MP Emma Husar.

“You can’t claim to support then undermine. It’s called gaslighting,” Ms Husar wrote.

Another user wrote: “Nope. Rugby league is the working class game. You pay players for their work, not for the revenue they bring in to bosses.”

Source: Twitter

“We are living in the golden age of women‘s professional sports development. if you’re not embracing it then you’re not embracing sport full stop,” a third person wrote.

It comes as NSW Rugby League considers a similar pay move for the female Blues origin side, promising a discussion on equal pay at upcoming board meetings.

NSWRL officials will discuss equal pay for female players in upcoming meetings. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

Levy, who hosts Wide World of Sports on 2GB and frequently fills in for Ray Hadley, stood by his comments on Friday, telling The Daily Telegraph he‘d rather see the money invested in grassroots support for female rugby league.

“It‘s great to see women rewarded for what they’re doing in rugby league, but we still need to look at more funding for grassroots pathways, facilities and getting young girls involved,” Levy said.

“Twitter will carry on like pork chops … but how can you throw heaps at top players, when young girls are starting out in the league but not getting support, no support.”

He also hit back at Ms Husar‘s gaslighting comment, replying: “I think my support and promotion of women’s sport over the last decade speaks for itself”.