LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The NRL community is uniting in support of Ali Brigginshaw and her family after her wife, Kate, publicly condemned the "disgusting" abuse they've faced on social media.
Ali Brigginshaw is a prominent figure in women's rugby league, having achieved notable success with the Brisbane Broncos, where she won the NRLW competition, as well as the State of Origin series with Queensland and World Cups with the Jillaroos.
Throughout her career, she has played 33 games for the Broncos, 25 Tests for Australia, and 11 Origin matches for the Maroons, leading her team to victory in the 2022 State of Origin series.
However, this year has been challenging for Brigginshaw, who has struggled with her form and could not prevent the Blues from winning the 2025 series in two games.
Recently, Queensland's strategy shifted, moving Brigginshaw to the lock position for Game 3 against New South Wales in Newcastle, hoping to salvage their pride after her earlier role in the halves.
This adjustment comes after Brigginshaw experienced difficulty in her performance and feared that she might have played her last Origin game.
In addition to her athletic challenges, Brigginshaw has been subjected to severe online harassment.
Kate Brigginshaw shared her frustration on social media, addressing the impact of mental health on athletes.
She stated, "Mental health affects everyone, in particular athletes," highlighting the toll that public scrutiny takes.
Kate emphasized the difference between reasonable feedback and the harmful comments their family has endured.
She noted, "Anyone in the public eye is aware they open themselves up to opinion and scrutiny, however there is a fine line between a reasonable comment/DM (direct message) and what is honestly far beyond anything even remotely reasonable, which is what Ali and the family have been subjected to for the last month."
The situation has prompted a flood of support from fans and fellow players within the NRL community, rallying around the Brigginshaw family during this difficult time.