NRL Women in League round: How Rabbitohs are breaking down barriers

It may be Women in League Round, but the reality is many young girls still don’t have access to the sport - see how South Sydney is helping to break down rugby league barriers.

Aaliyah Wighton watched the Jillaroos jet off to Las Vegas earlier this year, and hasn’t stopped talking about it since.

The 10-year-old daughter of South Sydney star Jack Wighton has big dreams to play like her dad, and has started wearing the No.3 on her back too in her first season of tackle rugby league.

Being the child of one of the game’s biggest stars comes with its privileges. Athletic genetics of course, proximity to rugby league and access to the best gear. Not to mention tackling drills at home with her dad, which are becoming more and more frequent in the Wighton household.

“That’s her goal is to play NRLW, that’s her dream, she talks about it all the time,” says Mon Wighton, Jack’s wife.

“She’s been around rugby league her whole life and she looks up to her dad so much, but back in the day you didn’t really see the girls playing, but in the last five years or so it’s grown so much and that’s why for her now, she’s been given so much more confidence.”

Rabbitohs star Jack Wighton with daughter Aaliyah and wife Mon. Credit: Supplied.

A path to an NRLW career is clear for Aaliyah if she wants to take it, and she’s lucky in many ways.

But not every little girl in the South Sydney area has the same blessings in life.

And for some, just a new pair of boots and a safe space to spend an afternoon playing games with friends away from a difficult home life is a good as it gets.

It’s Women in League Round, and these are the realities for some girls in the game.

FIX THE PROBLEM

Alisha Parker-Elrez is the kind of person who wants to help anyone in need, and actively dedicates her life to it.

The Souths Cares chief executive has to be one of the hardest-working and thoughtful people in rugby league.

Alisha Parker-Elrez (right) with partner Yileen Buddy Gordon. Picture: Supplied

So in 2024 when the Australian government committed $200 million to fund ideas to break down participation barriers for women and girls, Parker-Elrez applied for a grant knowing just how far a slice of that money could go for young Indigenous girls in the local area.

Play Her Way was born. The first of a series of 10-week camps at Souths’ Maroubra-based headquarters, aimed at teaching girls aged 10 proper tackle techniques, ball skills, nutrition, and the rules of rugby league while forming social connections to give them confidence.

They have proper training with qualified female coaches who are able to provide a positive encouragement and act as role models for the young girls.

“Most of them were just so grateful for not only the growth they’ve seen, their football growth, but skillset-wise, as well as them as individuals, their confidence,” Parker-Elrez says of the feedback from parents and guardians.

South Sydney's Play Her Way program has introduced rugby league to kids who might need it most. Picture: Supplied,

NOT JUST A BOOT

Female participation is the fastest growing area of rugby league but it’s not accessible for everyone.

Transport to and from training is an issue for families without a car, it costs money to register to play, as well as new equipment, boots and bags and spending weekends and nights travelling to games.

Parker-Elrez knows this well.

At the end of the 10-week Play Her Way program, the girls graduated, and were all given a brand new pair of boots as well as a gift bag, including paid registration to play OzTag or touch football in the area.

“A lot of feedback was the gratitude about feeding them, making sure we always had healthy snacks for them during the sessions,” she said.

More importantly, it’s giving kids equal access to the option.

At the end of the Play Her Way program, the girls graduated, and were all given a brand new pair of boots, as well as a gift bag. Picture: Supplied,

Parker-Elrez believes firmly that an unstable home life or a money pressures shouldn’t impact access to sport.

“A couple of the girls are not in care of their parents. They might be with grandparents, aunties, uncles or even strangers,” she says.

“So it gives those carers some support too, and it’s a bit of fun for the girls to build confidence and make friends because their home life might not be so nice.

“And seeing the smiles on their faces and how happy they are to make friends was all worth it.”

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

The program has been so successful it will run again for more age groups.

After 10 weeks of training two nights a week, rugby league didn’t seem so scary for the girls or their parents.

“She’s always wanted to play tackle, but Jack and I said no,” Mon Wighton says.

“It reaches a stage where you can’t say no anymore and you have to trust what they want to do.

Aaliyah played her first game recently, scored a try on debut. She loved every second of it.

“You couldn’t wipe the smile off her face.”

Originally published as NRL Women in League round: How Rabbitohs are breaking down barriers