A Call for Focus on the Women’s Game
Kennedy Cherrington has expressed her frustration with the ongoing debate about when the women’s State of Origin should be scheduled. She believes that the focus should shift from the timing of the game to the quality of the product being presented on the field.
The scheduling of the women’s State of Origin has long been a topic of discussion, with some arguing that it should be placed later in the calendar. The reasoning behind this is that it would allow NRLW form to dictate selection, potentially leading to better quality performances. However, many players enter the series opener having not played a top-level game in at least six months, which means teams are now conducting six-week training camps to prepare their players.
Despite these challenges, the first game of the series was a hard-fought battle in Newcastle, where the Blues came out on top with a score of 11-6. This low score, however, drew criticism online. In response, Cherrington addressed the media and called out the critics.
“There has been a lot of backlash with the Origin game being the first game of the season,” she told reporters on Monday. “You can’t really control the score, but I do love a game that is set for set, try for try.”
She emphasized that the team had discussed the backlash and believed that last year’s game was amazing, as was this year’s. Cherrington urged people to stop focusing on the score and instead celebrate the fact that the season has finally begun.
“The product you are going to get is amazing, whether that be with a few mistakes or no mistakes,” she said.
Cherrington’s comments followed a post she made on X, where she criticized those who disguised disrespectful comments as criticism in the sporting landscape. She pointed towards those questioning the growth of the women’s game and those who claimed the series opener was “one of the worst games” they’d seen.
“Last year the reaction was completely different after Game I. Same game, same sacrifice, same commitment,” she wrote on X. “Critique the actual game if you want because that comes with sport, but understand the structure of our season and the reality of being semi-professional athletes balancing training, full-time jobs, families, study, and everything else outside of sport.”
She added that dismissing athletes who put their bodies on the line at the highest level says more about bias than it does about quality. “Respect isn’t gendered,” she concluded.
Cherrington was not interested in letting the debate overshadow her thinking as she prepared for game two. She warned that she would rile up the opposition if necessary.
“You have to have personalities in the game and that’s the special thing about Origin,” she said with a smile on her face. “The energy that comes out; you can really express who you are and let the footy speak for itself.”
She also shared how her personality was shaped by growing up as the older sister of five kids. “There was always banter at home and that … makes me who I am, that makes me Kennedy. And Mum’s always said, don’t let anyone take that authenticity away from me. So I just let loose on the field.”
Game two of the women’s Origin series will take place on Thursday at Suncorp Stadium.
