NRLW stars back Brisbane Broncos’ Julia Robinson after exposing online trolls
NRLW players have rallied around Broncos star Julia Robinson after she was the target of “disgusting” online abuse and want the perpetrators held accountable for their actions.
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Teammates and other players have rallied around Julia Robinson after the NRLW star copped “disgusting” messages of hate from online trolls who body-shamed photos of her working out.
Robinson is one of the fittest players in the competition and regularly wins fitness tests at Broncos training, yet it seems some people in 2022 can’t accept female athletes are stronger, faster and fitter than them.
The winger posted a photo which attracted vile comments and then shared the hate to raise awareness that women are still being subjected to personal attacks after AFLW star Tayla Harris received derogatory comments in 2019 for a photo showing off her incredible kicking technique.
The Broncos condemned the online comments (see story below) and praised Robinson, who has been at the club since the inaugural competition in 2018.
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While it’s sad to see something like this still going on, fellow Bronco Chelsea Lenarduzzi says it’s an ongoing issue for female athletes.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t surprised by it,” she told NCA NewsWire. “People still over-sexualise females, and female athletes are heavily criticised for how they look.
“In Julia’s case, she is literally the perfect athlete. She’s the pinnacle of what we want to become. She wins everything at training and is the professional athlete who drags others to be better.
“She’s totally fine. She wanted to put out the message that it’s not okay to do that.”
Speaking at the launch of the NRLW season at Allianz Stadium on Wednesday, former Bronco Millie Boyle said the abuse was “disgusting”.
“It’s ridiculous for someone who gets praised by all the players,” she said.
“To see that some people have comments like that is ridiculous.
“I can’t believe it’s still happening, especially when we’re all talking about mental health and trying to break down stigmas.
“It doesn’t help when you have people making public comments like that, and I think people should be held accountable for that. Heaven forbid they have daughters who want to play rugby league one day.
“What kind of world are we fostering with comments like that?
“As a teammate, you couldn’t have a nicer person than her. She is genuinely the nicest person I know and she has the biggest heart.
“She’s someone who breaks the ‘Bronco’ (a 1.2km time trial of shuttle runs) in under five minutes, and most men don’t do that.”
Robinson received a lot of love from fellow players on Instagram, who praised her physical prowess and her bravery to call out the abuse.
“When I shared it, some people were saying they didn’t believe that it’s still happening, but it clearly is and people are just hiding behind their computer screens writing this stuff,” Titans recruit Lauren Brown said.
“We’re human and we work so hard on our bodies because that’s our main equipment in life. I think Robbo is the epitome of what an athlete is. I’m so glad she brought light to it because it’s not on.”
Robinson has scored six tries in 13 games in her NRLW career and will look to add to that tally after being named on the wing for Brisbane’s game against Newcastle on Sunday.
“She epitomises what a rugby league athlete is,” Broncos skipper Ali Brigginshaw said.
“On the field and off the field, her discipline with how she trains and what she eats is phenomenal. She’s an amazing athlete and the club is totally behind her.”
At a time when the footy world is calling on everyone to come together, Dragons skipper Kezie Apps had a simple message for trolls ahead of the new season.
“If you don’t have something nice to say, then don’t say anything at all,” she said.
Broncos lash out at body shaming trolls
-Travis Meyn
The Broncos have slammed online trolls after a Queensland Origin and NRLW star became the victim of vicious body shaming.
Broncos NRLW premiership winger Julia Robinson took to Instagram to publicly condemn disgusting comments about her physique posted on the Broncos’ official Facebook page.
The Broncos last week posted a regulation training photo of Robinson to their Facebook page which has a whopping 672,000 followers – the most of any Australian sporting franchise.
The innocuous image which shows Robinson, wearing a singlet and carrying the ball, at training attracted more than 220 comments.
Among them was a number of disparaging comments about Robinson’s athletic physique, with some comparing her to a man.
Robinson, 24, has been part of the Broncos’ NRLW squad since its inaugural campaign in 2018 and has featured in all four seasons.
Officially listed at 73kg and 170cm, Robinson is a supremely fit athlete who has also represented the Queensland State of Origin team and Australian Jillaroos.
A member of the Australian Defence Force, Robinson took to Instagram to condemn the trolls.
“I never usually read social media comments, or let them affect me,” she wrote.
“However I just wanted to say that no one should be ashamed or self-conscious to have muscles.
“It shows dedication and hard work. I love my muscles.
“Julia xoxo.”
Robinson posted screenshots of some the vile comments, which included:
“He’s gonna be a good player.”
“He’s a rig.”
“Yuck looks like a woman trapped in a man’s body.”
“Put o (sic) male head on that body..n (sic) it’s a male.”
“Good god, is that where they sent Gorden Tallis.”
Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy slammed the comments directed at Robinson.
“The Brisbane Broncos condemn the comments on social media aimed at our champion NRLW player Julia Robinson,” he said.
“Julia has been a Bronco since the very first day our NRLW team came together in 2018 and we are all angered by the words written by these trolls.
“Julia is one of the hardest workers in both our men’s and women’s program, and her consistently elite performances on the field reflect the effort she puts into her training and preparation.
“That’s not to mention the widespread work she does in the community, and the inspiration she gives to young athletes, both boys and girls.
#NRLW Best Moments - @brisbanebroncos #2 ðŸ´
— NRLW (@NRLWomens) May 21, 2022
Julia Robinson finishes a brilliant try in the #NRLWFinals! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MWBTd0atpx
“Surely our society has moved beyond athletes and role models like Julia being belittled for a photo that showcases everything that is great about our sport.
“The Broncos stand behind Julia and we can’t wait to see her and the rest of our NRLW squad kick off their season on Sunday night against the Knights.”
Robinson publicly calling out the online trolls is reminiscent of AFLW star turned boxer Tayla Harris, who went viral in 2019.
Harris hit out at trolls after a photo of her kicking a football attracted numerous vile comments in what was a watershed moment for women’s sport in Australia.
Originally published as NRLW stars back Brisbane Broncos’ Julia Robinson after exposing online trolls
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