LeagueNews.co | Robbie Hamilton
Gold Coast rugby league pioneer Karina Brown has announced that she will be hanging up her boots in 2024, marking the end of a stellar 14-season career at the top level.
NRLW Titan #1, Brown, has been a trailblazer in the sport since starting her journey on the Gold Coast back in 2010.
The 35-year-old Queensland representative is hoping to make a comeback from a calf strain in the next two weeks, ready to finish her career where it all began.
Brown has represented her state on nine occasions and played a crucial role in the Jillaroos' World Cup victories in 2013 and 2017.
With 21 NRLW games under her belt with the Roosters, Warriors, and Titans, she has truly made a mark on the game.
Off the field, Brown has been instrumental in the establishment of the Burleigh Bears and Easts Tigers women's teams, which now compete in Queensland's BMD Premiership.
She has been an inspiration to many young female players looking to follow in her footsteps to the NRLW.
Her dedication to growing the game was recognized in 2021 when she received the Veronica White Medal.
Additionally, a new female-only competition on the Gold Coast for 11- and 12-year-old girls has been named the Karina Brown Challenge in her honor.
Brown is proud to have played a role in the rise of women's rugby league during her illustrious 14-year career.