Brothers Juniors are leading the way in rugby league across the region in encouraging girls to ‘give the sport a go’.

On Monday, Brothers Juniors Ipswich held its first ‘come and try’ session for girls aged between five and 18. 

Stepping into the new Girls Co-ordinator role this year, Thea White said the come and try session was designed to give girls a taste of a regular training session rather than a casual after school activity. 

“This year is probably our first year of doing things a little bit differently,” she said.

“The goal of it is to give the girls of Ipswich a chance to come and have a look and have a go at rugby league in a safe environment. 

“So, without any commitment, without the pressure, just to come along and see whether it might be something they’d be interested in.”

As Queensland Rugby League are hoping to grow female participation in the sport by 15 percent over the next three years, Ms White said the Ipswich club are heading for the same target. 

“We hope to encourage girls that once they start playing a sport as a junior, they can continue down that pathway into seniors,” she said.  

“Until recent years, girls really had minimal opportunities to continue to play rugby league after being involved in under 12’s, so there’s been a real push to ensure that these girls can continue to play.”

However, it’s not only about playing the sport. 

“It’s also about showing that females can get involved as referees, volunteers and coaches and making sure that we have a 50 percent representation across the sport, just like we do in everyday life.”

Although schools such as Ipswich State High School, are implementing academies for girl’s rugby league, Ms White said she hopes females will feel comfortable in participating on the weekends as well. 

“It’s about trying to capture the sport in both the school system and obviously on the weekends for these girls,” she said. 

“Enabling them to continue to do things across all facets of the sport as opposed to just in a school environment.”

And as the popularity for rugby league continues to grow throughout the community, Ms White hopes that the national motto, ‘Same Game, Our Way’ will infuse optimism in females of all ages and encourage parents to bring their girls on Saturday (February 6) for sign on day. 

“Same game, our way, is a rugby league terminology,” she said. 

“We play rugby league exactly the same. It’s the same level of contact, same facilities but we just do it a little bit differently. 

“We do it our way.

“We just maintain that we are still in fact a female sport but it’s exactly the same as what the boys do. 

“It’s about equality.

“So, come along and have a go.”