Maggie Moloney was an Australian rugby league player, who was the star of the first official women's rugby league match, held in 1921. A street mural in Redfern, Australia, was painted in 2022 in tribute to her achievements and contribution to sport.[1]
Maggie Moloney | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Known for | First Official Women's Rugby League match |
Early life and career
editMoloney was, at the age of 15, the first female 'rugby league star', and described as the 'female Dally Messenger'. Moloney's appearance in rugby league was reported upon, as one of the 'largest news stories of 1921'. Her match was reported in many media outlets of the time, including The Sun, The Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph.
Moloney played in the Sydney Showground, in a crowd which was reported to consist of 20–30,000 people, and scored four tries for the Metropolitan Blues, against the rugby team 'the Sydney Reds'. The score was 21–11, and the match was the world's first public match of women's rugby league.[2]
Moloney's career was short, due to the 'level of administrative skulduggery' which the women's competition faced. Women who wanted to play sports in a similar manner to men, faced certain difficulties. For example, the men's teams were scheduled to play as 'curtain raisers' for the women's match. However, this curtain raiser was prevented by the NSW Rugby League officials. The ban was despite the fact that NSWRL voted to support women's competition.[1]
Despite the ban, the 'greatest rugby league player of the time', Dally Messenger, took the opportunity at half-time, to launch his own rugby league ball during the women's contest. Men were not allowed to watch the women's training, however women could, for a small fee. Police officers guarded the training grounds.[3]
Moloney has been described as a pioneer of women's sport in Australia, and a reminder of how women's sport was less supported in 1921 than at present.[1] Moloney won medals for being the highest scorer, and 'best and fairest'.[4]
Maggie M medal discussion
editIn 2022, there was discussion around whether to name the best female player (NWRL) after Moloney, being called the 'Maggie M medal' rather than the Dally M medal.[5][6][1] As well as plans to rename the medal, there is discussion around salaries. Moloney was described as 'the game's best female NRL player'.[7]
The NRL commented that:
"Maggie Moloney was a pioneer of women's rugby league and her story will always have an indelible place in the history of the game in Australia."[8]
Redfern wall mural
editIn 2022, a wall on the back of Redfern's St Vincent de Paul Community Support Center is nearby to the land where Moloney practiced, with her brother Bryan, who played for the Rabbitohs. The wall was painted by street artist Sharon Billinge and Rugby League Historian Katherine Haines.[1]
The mural in Redfern was also painted in recognition of the contribution made by the First Nations community. This community was recognised as being pioneers of women's rugby league in Australia.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "The unearthed story of Maggie Moloney — a rugby league star from 100 years ago". ABC News. 2022-09-16. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
- ^ Ferguson, Andrew (27 July 2022). "How a courageous duo helped women's rugby league kick off in 1921". National Rugby League. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ "Meet Maggie Moloney, the 'Women's Daily Messenger', who starred in the first public women's rugby league game in 1921 Pipa News". Retrieved 2022-09-21.
- ^ adminau. "The Redfern mural by Maggie Moloney reminds us of what the women's game could have been". Retrieved 2022-09-21.
- ^ Haines, Katherine (2022-02-25). "Why NRLW's best player should get Maggie M Medal, not Dally M". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
- ^ "Maggie Moloney Archives". South Sydney Herald. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
- ^ Proszenko, Adrian (2022-03-15). "More teams, higher wages ... and maybe a new award for the top NRLW player". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
- ^ "The Maggie M: Rugby league considers award name change to honour woman pioneer". ABC News. 2022-09-17. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
- ^ "Soon! Redfern Mural of First Female Aussie Rugby League Player Maggie Moloney". Redfern News. Retrieved 2022-09-21.