You can be what you can see: Karina continues to show the way

Officially hanging up the boots after a stellar 14-year career on Sunday, rugby league pioneer Karina Brown is excited to continue her legacy off the field. 

Awarded the Veronica White Medal in 2021 for her work driving female participation in rugby league, the Maroons winger has built a community of aspiring young female athletes across the country.

Her dedication to the growth of the game has also seen her recognised with the naming of the Karina Brown Challenge - a female-only competition on the Gold Coast for girls aged 11 and 12.

“It was an honor to be recognised in that way, especially after Veronica White who is a pioneer of the game and has made such a big impact in the community space,” Brown told pan66.com.

“I guess that’s what rugby league is about, it's bringing communities together who can feel proud to be a part of something and have something to aspire to that’s bigger than yourself.

“There’s been lots of little girls who I have mentored along the way, who might just be one person but that’s all it takes sometimes to be able to change one person’s life. 

“Even on the weekend, there was a couple of girls that live in Melbourne who are only six and eight-years-old who send me letters and posters in the mail, they made the trip up to Sydney just to see my last game. 

“You don’t really realise at the time, the impact that you have, but giving people time, that’s the biggest thing you can give. 

“That’s probably what I’ve learnt the most, that you can have an impact and it starts by giving people your time and being there for people when they need you.”

Between the age of 12 and 21, Brown was left to curse the rules that prevented her from playing rugby league, but the NRLW stalwart was determined to ensure no other girls would be forced to give up the game they loved.

Since receiving the Veronica White Medal, the Karina Brown Challenge was launched and has become an integral foundation for the female rugby league pathways on the Gold Coast.

“That was really special because when I was 12, all I wanted to do was play rugby league but there just wasn’t a pathway,” she said. 

“I didn’t even want to be a girl, I wished I was a boy because I wanted to play so badly. 

“My hero was Darren Lockyer and watching the Queenslanders pull on their jerseys, it was really sad for me because I thought I could never do that. 

“So to now have an Under 12’s pathway named after me, it has really nice synergy knowing that begins the pathways now. 

“It’s an all-girls challenge and I think at that age it gets a bit nerve wracking playing with the boys, so it’s great they can play against each other and get their confidence up in the game.

“I’ll hopefully get out to a lot more games for the competition next year as well. It was always a bit tough just with our training clashing with the juniors but I’m really excited to get more involved.”

• 2024 Veronica White Medal nominees