NRLW star Ali Brigginshaw has revealed how footy legend Gorden Tallis helped accelerate the growth of women’s professional rugby league in Australia.

Speaking ahead of her 50th appearance for the Broncos this weekend, the veteran acknowledged how far the sport has come on local shores.

‘Before my first Jillaroos game in 2009 against New Zealand we had street lights lighting up the field,’ she recalled.

‘And then ahead of the 2013 World Cup we also didn’t have the Coat of Arms on our jerseys because we weren’t recognised as an Australian team.’

Then prompted a bemused Tallis to step in.  

‘He came in to present our jerseys and said: ‘what the f*ck is this sh*t’,’ Brigginshaw told News Corp.

NRLW star Ali Brigginshaw has revealed how footy legend Gorden Tallis accelerated the growth of women’s professional rugby league in Australia

Brigginshaw recalled Tallis was stunned ahead of the women’s 2013 World Cup that the Jillaroos didn’t have the Coat of Arms on their jerseys – so he got it done himself on behalf of the squad

The likes of Jaime Chapman (pictured) and Jess Sergis are now elite footy stars as interest in women’s rugby league increases

‘He took our jerseys and said he’d come back when they had the Coat of Arms on them. And he did.’

To be a prominent player in the Australian sporting landscape, the NRLW are focused on the end game.

The competition has increased to 12 teams, and games are screened on Fox Sports.

And as the female stars often point out, they are not in direct competition with the NRL – and never will be.

It is a slow burn, with the majority of players still juggling work with their modest salaries.

Previously it was reported the minimum NRLW wage last year was just $34,000 – but it will increase to $50,600 in 2027.

But given only four teams entered the inaugural NRLW competition in 2018, the growth has been impressive.

And if the NRLW patiently follow the lead of the Matildas – who are arguably the nation’s favourite sporting team – anything is possible.

‘We know what’s at stake,’ said Parramatta Eels prop Kennedy Cherrington when quizzed on where the NRLW currently sits.

‘We’ve worked so hard to be here. We see the fans who rock up and how they idolise us – that responsibility on our shoulders is something we regard highly.’