Dragons reigning Dally M Player of the Year Jess Sergis has a message for the NRL
The NRLW has made huge strides in recent years but Dally M medallist Jess Sergis is fearful that putting the competition on hold would undo all the hard work the NRL has done to grow the game.
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Don’t forget about the women’s game, says Dally M Medallist Jessica Sergis in the wake of the coronavirus fallout.
“There’s so much talk around the men's game, with financial stuff, what we want to get across is that we want to be just as important as the men and we don’t want to be forgotten,” Sergis said.
“But no one could have guessed that this could happen this year … there’s a lot of talk that the boys are starting up again this week, we’ve just got to wait, hope for the best and pray that we can have a run as well.”
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Reports have surfaced that both the Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Warriors were set to pull out of the 2020 NRLW competition.
The Jillaroo said it was “heartbreaking” to learn the news via social media and newspapers.
“It was quite breathtaking to be honest, I remember reading it and I didn’t know what to believe, I remember calling my mate Kezie Apps and I was like is this real?” Sergis said.
“We’ve had a lot of talk around that as well, you can’t believe everything you read, but it was heartbreaking. If that did happen, you wouldn’t even have an NRLW competition.”
At the time, NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and Rugby League Players' Association chief executive Clint Newton assured players that the women’s game was part of the NRL’s “whole of game approach” to the resumption of the season.
Sergis said that scrapping NRLW would undo all the hard work the NRL has done to grow the game.
“We’re progressing each year tremendously and it’s absolutely amazing for us girls and the women’s game, it’d be such a shame if it all got put on hold because of this coronavirus,” Sergis said.
“In 2018 at the first stand alone State of Origin game, I remember being in the crowd and it was a roar then, and then taking part in 2019 it was next level, it just rose again, we got over 1 million people watching at home,”
“Each year it’s getting better and better. For the women’s game sake, I really hope we can play footy this year to take it to the next level.”
Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys acknowledges the women’s competition’s importance.
“Women’s rugby league remains a focus area for the NRL,” he told The Sunday Telegraph.
“We’re very proud of the rapid growth and success of women’s rugby league recent years, at both the elite and community levels – with female participation more than doubling in the past five years.
“We are continuing with our dialogue with NRLW players and clubs to ensure they are kept informed during this period.”
COVID-19 forced the 22-year-old Sergis to take six weeks leave from her childcare job, but she is more concerned about her teammates and coaches.
“I’m in a good situation and enjoying myself, but I know I could speak on behalf of other players who are really struggling. I know some who have lost jobs. I know some of our coaching staff have lost jobs” Sergis said.
“We’ve had a few meetings with the NRL now, they’re doing everything they can for us, we’ve just got to stay positive and trust what they’re doing.”
The St George Footy Grant Program has pledged $200,000 to support grassroots football and Sergis believes the investment will help ensure rugby league continues to thrive.
“For the younger girls and boys in that situation, their clubs, if they are struggling financially they can apply for that which is awesome” Sergis said.