Player Karina Brown

[mt.wellington]

Karina Brown

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Karina Brown (born 9 March 1989) is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays for the Gold Coast Titans Women in the NRL Women's Premiership and the Burleigh Bears in the QRL Women's Premiership.

A fullback or winger, she is a Queensland and Australian representative, winning two World Cups in 2013 and 2017.

Born in Warragul, Victoria, Brown moved to the Gold Coast, Queensland with her family at the age of two and attended Marymount College. Brown grew up playing rugby league but was forced to stop when she was 13 years old, as there were no longer any opportunities for her to play competitively.

In 2010, she returned to rugby league, playing for the Runaway Bay Seagulls and making her debut for Queensland.

In 2012, after a year off, Brown founded the Burleigh Bears women's team. She captained Burleigh for four years, leading them to two premiership victories in 2015 and 2016.

In 2013, Brown made her first Test debut for the Australia, playing two games in their 2013 Women's Rugby League World Cup-winning campaign.

In 2017, to ensure the ongoing development of women's rugby league in Queensland, Brown and teammates Vanessa Foliaki and Sasha Mahuika left Burleigh to form another women's side, the Easts Tigers in Brisbane. On 2 December 2017, Brown started on the wing in Australia's 23–16 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup final win over New Zealand.

On 17 June 2018, Brown signed with the Sydney Roosters for the inaugural NRL Women's Premiership season. On 22 June 2018, Brown captained Queensland in the inaugural Women's State of Origin, scoring her side's only two tries in their 10–16 loss to New South Wales.

In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL Women's season, Brown made her debut for the Sydney Roosters, starting on the wing in their 4–10 loss to the New Zealand Warriors. On 30 September 2018, she started at fullback in the Roosters' 12–34 Grand Final loss to the Brisbane Broncos.

On 11 October 2019, Brown captained the Prime Minister's XIII in their 22–14 win over the Fiji Prime Minister's XIII.

In 2020, Brown joined the New Zealand Warriors for the 2020 NRL Women's season.

 

[mt.wellington]

League: Iconic kiss picture explodes in controversy​

By Alex Blair
news.com.au·
23 Jun, 2018 06:32 PM

State of Origin players Karina Brown, right, and Kiwi Vanessa Foliaki, featured in an image posted to the NRL's social media accounts. Photo / via Facebook

The NRL has backed two female footballers from opposing teams captured locking lips in a kiss after the image sparked backlash by a handful of fans online.

A photo of women's State of Origin players Karina Brown, who plays for Queensland, and New Zealand-born Vanessa Foliaki, of New South Wales, was posted to the NRL's social media accounts after the thrilling game came to a conclusion last night.

New South Wales Captain Maddie Studdon led NSW to a defiant win in the inaugural Women's State of Origin and became the poster girl for female athletes in Australia.

But it was Foliaki and Brown who stole the limelight, who have been in a relationship since they were selected to represent the Jillaroos in 2014.
The pair claims the rugby league family "wants us to get married" and that the "coaching staff are supportive. We're feeling all the love".

The image of the couple kissing was met with disdain from some fans, one who claimed it was a "bad move" by the NRL. The NRL responded with: "Welcome to 2018 … can't wait for you to join us!".

Another claimed the NRL was "already sexualising the women's league" and that it was "one step forward three steps back".
The NRL replied: "If we can post a of Cooper Cronk and his wife Tara kissing, then we can share a photo of Karina Brown and Ness Foliaki sharing a moment too."

In the lead up to the game the couple told NRL.com they have spent their relationship "competing against each other on several occasions".

The couple said the State of Origin would be "their biggest relationship challenge yet" and that their relationship "has never been an issue among their teammates and support staff".

"Karina saw me across the room. We were drinking at the bar and she decided to shout everyone a drink, have a skolling competition and couldn't beat me. I smashed her. It started from there," Foliaki said.

The inaugural Women's State of Origin has been hailed as the first step towards parity with the men's game after a successful night saw NSW claim a 16-10 victory over Queensland on Friday night.

Despite missing a host of stars — including Ruan Sims and Caitlyn Moran — and losing Corban McGregor and Rebecca Riley to injury in the first-half, NSW toughed it out to claim the historic win at North Sydney Oval.

The match was a giant leap forward for women's rugby league. The annual match has been known as the Interstate Challenge for the first 19 years and it was the first time the game carried the Origin branding. A healthy crowd of 6824 watched on at North Sydney and the match was broadcast live on Nine Network and Fox Sports.

In April, controversial rugby player Israel Folau came under fire after saying gay people are destined to go to hell.

In a comment to a follower, who asked the Wallabies player what was "God's plan for gay people", he responded: "HELL. Unless they repent of their sins and turn to God."

Yet the women's teams hope the concept could be expanded in years to come to a three-game series, similar to the men's Origin.

As well, halves were only 30 minutes because of concerns about the fitness levels of the players, who are only semi-professional.

They were looking for that marquee Origin game and they got it," NSW coach Ben Cross said.

"Queensland came with a terrific attitude and the game wasn't the prettiest game — execution wasn't the best.

"But that's what Origin is all about — both teams were so gritty and tenacious in defence. Some of the physicality and some of the hits out there, it was a real Origin. They proved their worth to have Origin alongside their name."

It's hoped that the game will develop in future years, especially with the inaugural NRL Women's Championship at the end of the season expected to life the standard of the female game.

Asked if future Women's Origin should be 40-minute halves, Queensland coach Jason Hetherington said: "I think you'd have to progress up to it. "You could go to 35 and see how that works and eventually get up to 40 but I think it'll be a bit of time before that happens." Maroons skipper Karina Brown called it a watershed moment for rugby league. "It makes me smile," Brown said.

"The future generations are out there and they're playing rugby league because they've got heroes now — female heroes. It's fantastic for the game. "I'm sure that's where we'll get to (three games). For now I'm just happy we're playing Women's State of Origin and the game will keep evolving and getting bigger and better."

Kiwi league player's kiss pic explodes in controversy

Kiwi league player caught up in controversy, with NRL having to defend photo.

www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[mt.wellington]

A Home Away From Home For Karina Brown​

Sydney Roosters
Thu 6 Sep 2018, 01:49 pm

In demand backline sensation Karina Brown had many offers on the table ahead of the NRL Women's Premiership, but in the end it all came down to where she'd feel at home.

A Brisbane native, Brown's obvious choice would have been the Brisbane Broncos, but when it came to making her decision she was adamant that she needed to keep an open mind.

"From the start (of the signing process) I said to myself that I would leave my options completely open, even though you might have thought that the Broncos would be my first choice," she said of that free agency period.

"I had a number of offers on the table and I could have gone anywhere.

"From the moment I walked into the doors at the Sydney Roosters I felt like I was home.

"Everyone from the men's team, the staff, it just feels like family.

"To be out of my state and feel like that, it was a no brainer to be completely honest."

It certainly didn't hurt the decision making process when she found out that the Roosters had snapped up in demand marquee players Maddie Studdon and Isabelle Kelly.

The pair are good friends of Karina's, fierce opponents and outstanding representative teammates all wrapped up in one.

"When I was looking where to go when the season was announced there were a few names mentioned.

"When I heard about people like Maddie Studdon and Isabelle Kelly signing on, who I played against in the Origin series this year, I was definitely excited at the prospect of playing with them.

"Playing against them and now playing alongside them at club level is just awesome, because I've also played with them at the Jillaroos.

"How amazing it would be to hold the first premiership trophy alongside them as well."

Now fully recovered from a broken jaw and raring to go after being named on the wing this week, Brown feared that she may miss out on playing in the Inaugural season all together when she was injured in a freak injury just eight weeks ago.

She feared the worst, but was thrilled when she heard the news that she'd be available to run out for Round 1.

"I've had a few serious injuries in my career, and they all seem to happen in the last five minutes of the game.

"This one was no different.

"We'd already won the game, then right at the death a forward broke the line.

"As a fullback does, I went at her legs, put my jaw in the wrong spot and bang.

"She got me really good.

"I got the all clear to play about two weeks ago though, so I'm good to go."

Partner and teammate Vanessa Foliaki was a big help in the recovery process, even if the meals didn't sound terribly appealing.

"My partner Vanessa (Foliaki) was awesome, she pretty much blended up all the meals she was having.

"I was having blended chicken schnitzel, potatoes and vegetables.

"All the weight that I lost has come back now, so I'll be at my best on Saturday."

The Sydney Roosters inaugural Women's Premiership season kicks off on Saturday afternoon at ANZ Stadium against the New Zealand Warriors.

Some women have dreamed of this moment since they were young aspiring rugby league players, but in Karina's case there was no dream because it didn't feel like a possibility

"I didn't really think about it when I was a girl, because it was almost unheard of that women could play.

"I focused all my energy into touch football in high school and enjoyed that.

"When I turned 21 and found out that there were competitions around with women playing, I jumped at the idea pretty quickly.

"To see where it's grown in the nine years that I've been involved is just phenomenal."

Now that kick off is just around the corner, the two big emotions are in full effect.

"There's excitement and nerves at the moment.

"I think you've just got to treat each game like another game of footy.

"I've been here before, I've done this before, we've just got to savour every moment we're out there and play our best footy.

"We need to control our energy and perform to the best of our ability."

A Home Away From Home For Karina Brown

Karina Brown has found her home away from home at the Sydney Roosters.

www.roosters.com.au

 

[mt.wellington]

Donald announces Warriors NRLW squad​

Richard Becht
Fri 18 Sep 2020, 11:59 am

Five Kiwi Ferns headline a multi-national NRLW squad named today which also features four Jillaroos internationals and two Australian Olympic gold medal-winning rugby union sevens players.

In naming the 22-strong line-up for this year’s NRLW premiership, new Warriors coach Brad Donald has confirmed Jillaroos Kirra Dibb, Karina Brown, Tazmin Gray and Simone Smith along with sevens rugby union stars Ellia Green and Evania Pelite.

“I’m thrilled about the talent we’ve been able to secure to build around our five core Warriors players who have such made huge sacrifices to be involved in this year,” said Donald.

“It has been hectic pulling the squad together in such limited time but we have a strong group we can build here to do the Warriors proud.

“Bringing in Ellia and Evania from their sevens rugby union background is going to add a special dimension and we’re able to draw on a good base of players who know what the NRLW premiership is all about.”

Donald stressed again that the New Zealand-based contingent of Madison Bartlett, Georgia Hale, Kanyon Paul, Hilda Peters and Crystal Tamarua were critical to the culture he would be striving to create for the camp.

Also included is Tokoroa-born Shontelle Stowers, who represented the Warriors at the NRL Nines in Perth in February (scoring a long-range try in their win over the Sydney Roosters). Stowers has played rugby union for the Wallaroos and for the Australian sevens side as well as doubling in rugby league for the
Roosters and New South Wales.

As well as Dibb, Brown, Gray (Kiwi Jordan Rapana’s sister), Smith, Green, Pelite and Stowers, the squad includes:

• Prime Minister’s XIII representatives Brianna Clark, Taimane Levu, Laken Paitai, Samantha Economos and Kayla Peck
• Fiji international Teaghan Hartigan
• Indigenous All-Stars Shaniah Power

Bartlett, Hale, Paul, Peters and Tamarua are set to finish their quarantine tomorrow before the whole squad assembles in Sydney on Sunday.

As well as the playing squad of 22 players, four development players have been signed: Abii Church, Tyla Gambell, Tahlia Hunter and Patricia Raikadroka.

WARRIORS SQUAD | 2020 NRLW PREMIERSHIP
STEPHANIE BALL (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, NSW)
MADISON BARTLETT (Richmond Roses, Auckland)
KARINA BROWN (Burleigh Bears, Qld)
BRIANNA CLARK (West Brisbane Panthers, Qld)
KIRRA DIBB (North Sydney Bears, NSW)
SAMANTHA ECONOMOS (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, NSW)
TAZMIN GRAY (Burleigh Bears, Qld)
ELLIA GREEN (Australian sevens rugby union)
GEORGIA HALE (Richmond Roses, Auckland)
NAOMI KARA (Wests Tigers, NSW)
TEAGHAN LAING (HARTIGAN) (Burleigh Bears, Qld)
TAIMANE LEVU (Wests Brisbane Panthers, Qld)
LAKEN PAITAI (Burleigh Bears, Qld)
KANYON PAUL (Hamilton City Tigers, Waikato)
MICHAELA (KAYLA) PECK (Wests Brisbane Panthers, Qld)
EVANIA PELITE (Australian sevens rugby union)
HILDA PETERS (Papakura Sisters, Auckland)
SHANIAH POWER (West Brisbane Panthers, Qld)
KAYLA SAUVAO (Wentworthville Magpies, NSW)
SIMONE SMITH (Newcastle, NSW)
SHONTELLE STOWERS (North Sydney Bears, NSW)
CRYSTAL TAMARUA (Richmond Roses, Auckland)

Donald announces Warriors NRLW squad

Five Kiwi Ferns, four Jillaroos and two Olympic rugby union sevens gold medallists have been named in the Warriors' 2020 NRLW squad.

www.warriors.kiwi

 

[mt.wellington]

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