‘Not here just to wash dishes’: How women’s sport is changing the way of life

Three premierships in four years gave this rugby league captain the platform to deliver a stirring speech which should resonate across all women’s sport.

Cairns Genavie Tabuai during the Foley Shield in 2024. Tabuai has been named in the Queensland Indigenous inaugural team. Picture: Supplied

It may not be the biggest speech in history, but it will go down as one of Cairns’ greatest for women’s sport.

Remember the words ‘women are no longer just here to wash dishes’.

Those were the words Kangaroos premiership captain Genavie Tabuai shouted when she addressed Barlow Park after winning her third FNQRL women’s premiership in four years.

It has been four years since the women’s FNQ Rugby League competition started and it is in ‘the best place ever’ according to Tabuai.

“This sport has grown so much to the point where women are no longer just here to wash dishes and clean,” Tabuai said.

Roos captain Genavie Tabuai runs hard in the Far North Queensland Rugby League (FNQRL) women's grand final match against the Atherton Roosters at Barlow Park. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We love the sport just as much as the boys do and the times have definitely changed.”

Tabuai’s counterpart, Atherton Roosters captain Teesha Potts agreed with her.

Despite going from eight teams to just five in four years, Tabuai said the competition has come a long way.

“It isn’t just going to develop overnight, it is going to take some time,” Tabuai said.

“But with how far it has come since it began, it is an incredible competition.

“When I was doing my speech on Saturday night, it just all sort of came out.

“It is right though, seeing all these girls out on the field, you know we aren’t just here to cook and clean.

“These girls go just as hard as the boys do, they aren’t afraid to throw their weight around and make us feel it.

“But people need to be aware that rugby league isn’t just for men, it is for everyone.”

Tabuai claimed the player of the grand final in Saturday’s 32-6 decider against the Roosters, the second in two years.

After a stellar season, Tabuai was named in the inaugural Queensland Country Indigenous side, the only person from Far North Queensland to get picked.

Teesha Potts controls the play of the ball in the Far North Queensland Rugby League (FNQRL) women's grand final match against the Cairns Kangaroos at Barlow Park. Picture: Brendan Radke

Although the Roosters captain has stepped away from rugby league in 2025, Potts said she would continue coaching the next wave of women rugby league stars.

“I agreed with what she (Tabuai) said on Saturday night, the game has changed so much in the past four years and there are so many more women now playing it,” Potts said.

“I have loved every bit of playing with the girls, not just this year but over the past four years.

“I will do some coaching next year, I really loved it this year and think I will continue doing that and not play.”

Potts was the coach of the Roosters Under 15s side in 2024 while also running Tackle Ready sessions with the under 7s.

“Coaching is a lot of fun and there are some really good players coming through,” Potts said.

“The sport is growing, not just from a junior level but a senior level as well.

“Girls are growing up now looking at their female idols on television, watching them play in the NRLW.

“They sit there and they know that they don’t have to stop playing the sport once they get to a certain age.

“The times have changed and it is great to see so many girls and women playing the sports we all loved watching as kids.”

Both Potts and Tabuai played in the first year of the women's FNQRL competition.

Originally published as ‘Not here just to wash dishes’: How women’s sport is changing the way of life