A little 10-year-old Ali Brigginshaw didn’t know what to feel when a parent of an opposition player started filming her without permission while she was on field.

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The parent wasn’t impressed at this girl who had just been selected in the Met West zone team, the only girl in her side and of all the teams competing. No, she was filming little Ali as evidence for her protest, that this girl shouldn’t have been selected over her son in the rep side.

Little did that woman know, that that little girl would grow up to be a legend of the game and one of the most influential figures of women’s rugby league.

“To me, it was, ‘I’ll just prove anyone wrong’ and it was like, ‘Oh, it’s another challenge’. I’m already told I can’t play rugby league, so why not have a mum complaining about me,” Brigginshaw told foxsports.com.au.

“And now I kind of just sit back and think that’s why I keep playing and that’s why I haven’t retired earlier because I’m like, people tried to stop me for so many years and I was told so many things as to why I couldn’t do it. Why shouldn’t I do that?”

Ali Brigginshaw’s old Met West team, with the future icon front row and second from the right.Source: FOX SPORTSBrigginshaw’s been a trail blazer since she was in primary school.Source: FOX SPORTS

This weekend Ali will play in her final home game in Brisbane when the Broncos take on the Knights in the NRLW semi finals at Totally Workwear Stadium.

Lose and it’s the Broncos veteran’s final game in the NRLW. Win and they book a date with the Titans down the road in the preliminary final.

So it’s appropriate to take a trip down memory lane to that Queensland Primary School Rugby League Under 11s carnival in the year 2000. Ali’s mum, Pam, still has the carnival’s program and Ali’s rep jersey which is about twice the size of her Jillaroos jersey despite Ali being only 10 while wearing it.

Brigginshaw’s Met West Under 11 jumper compared to her senior Jillaroos jersey.Source: FOX SPORTSAli Brigginshaw’s U11s boys player of the match medal.Source: FOX SPORTS

The program features some familiar names as Ali played against the likes of Daly Cherry-Evans, Jake Granville, Jharal Yow Yeh, Ben Barba and Chris Sandow (Ali was awarded player of the match in the victory against Sandow’s side and yes, Pam kept that medal too).

“I think it was either with Jharal or Daly that I had a conversation about it and they said they just remember that I was a really good tackler.

“I always wanted to tackle, that’s what I was known for. The girl that always wanted to tackle … and smash the boys.”

Source: FOX SPORTSBrigginshaw played against some future NRL stars at that Queensland Primary School Rugby League Under 11s carnival, including Daly Cherry-Evans and Ben Barba.Source: FOX SPORTS

It’s extraordinary to think that Pam kept all these records, not knowing the future her daughter would have in the game. Few back then thought it would be possible that women would play professionally one day.

Ali wasn’t selected in the rep side the following year for the Under 12s. Not because she wasn’t good enough. It was clear she was. The officials deemed that because, as a girl, she wouldn’t be playing beyond under 12s, her spot in the rep side should go to a boy who did have a future in the game.

If only they knew.

The respect Ali holds in the game is clear. After the Broncos and Warriors clash last week, New Zealand players from both sides came together to honour Ali with a haka after the match in a moving tribute.

“It was all the emotions of having those girls there (the Warriors) and then having my teammates, doing it. I guess it just kind of hit home right there and then that it was going to be it.”

Ali Brigginshaw with the NRLW trophy last year. Picture: Adam HeadSource: News Corp Australia

The last of the old school footballers, Ali has straddled rugby league eras. The 36-year-old was playing in a time where women fought hard for recognition, for respect. The first time she pulled on the green and gold, the women were banned from having the coat of arms on their jersey and when the Jillaroos played tests, they were on fields that used street lamps at either end for lighting. Now they play in front of packed stadiums all over the world.

Ali was in the side when the Jillaroos won their first World Cup in 2013 and hasn’t lost a World Cup since. She played seven games of the Interstate Challenge before it was the State of Origin and played 13 more for the Maroons, captaining them for 12. Ali was there when it grew from one game to two, then to three in a complete series. She was the NRLW’s marquee player and Bronco number one and has won four premierships. She’s captained club, state, country to success and was the 2020 Dally M Winner. Ali will retire a one club player.

There’s nothing more to achieve in the game, yet it feels like the game just won’t be the same without her playing in it.

She’s a legend, an icon. She is women’s rugby league.

Kezie Apps and Ali Brigginshaw of Australia celebrate with the Women’s Rugby League World Cup trophy in 2022.Source: Getty Images

Her legacy must be recognised and honoured, but what is fitting enough for the game’s most respected, successful and influential figures. What could be enough?

Is it a statue outside Suncorp Stadium? It’s where Ali won the first ever NRLW Grand Final and also the 2017 World Cup. Ali would be a fitting neighbour alongside fellow legends Darren Lockyer, Arthur Beetson and Mal Meninga.

The Broncos are planning their own ways to honour her legacy, but a game wide honour is also warranted.

The Dally Ms have been criticised for not representing women. The women take home the women’s Dally M, but Dally Messenger didn’t have anything to do with the women’s game. The awarding of statues of a man (Dally M) to the women on the night, is overdue for an overhaul and the Dally Ms and Ali B’s has a nice ring to it. The statues awarded on the night could include Ali’s trademark braids or top bun.

Ali Brigginshaw during the last series of her decorated State of Origin career with the Queensland Maroons.Source: Getty Images

“I can,” NRL boss Peter V’landys told foxsports.com.au when asked if he could see a medal or award named after Brigginshaw one day.

“She’s been an ornament of the game and she’s probably been one of the most passionate supporters of women’s rugby league. I know that first hand because I’ve had a number of meetings with her and have come out with concussion. She’s fantastic. She’s great for the sport and hopefully we’ll be able to recognise her accordingly.

“I see her as a pioneer to be honest. She was one of the ones that really grew the game. You need those people that grow the game. She was a personality in her own right. She’s got charisma and she was an absolute fearless player. She just gave it all. If there was a player that gave it all it was Ali. She should be very proud of her career just as we are of her.”

For Ali, she knows she’s leaving the game in a good place and her involvement and influence to get there can’t be underestimated.

She’s a leader who inspires and motivates, sets the benchmark and example.

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Ali loves the Broncos and has always held so much pride in the jersey and has instilled that pride in her teammates. Join the Broncos and there’s a standard expected. Ali created that standard.

Five years ago I asked Ali about what changes she wanted to see in the game, and she had a long list. While many of those changes have been achieved – Origin to be three games, not just one, a bigger competition (it was about to become a six team competition then), and long-term contracts to give the players security so they don’t have to live year to year.

But there are still things on the list that are yet to occur and Ali plans on continuing to advocate for the game in the next stage of her career.

“It will be so nice to just have these moments where I can go and support the games and be involved in the games where I can have like a different lens and make things happen. Like, I feel like a new motivation to get shit done.”

“I only know what happens in my four walls at the Broncos. But from what I hear, it’s not amazing at every club. So just making sure every club’s being supported the best way they can and that’s probably where I haven’t seen that side of it because I’ve only had the Broncos”

Ali Brigginshaw of the Broncos is given a guard of honour for her final NRLW home game.Source: Getty Images

“I want to see what other clubs are doing, what works, what isn’t working.”

For now though, the focus is on this weekend and, hopefully, getting through the next few weeks too.

But Ali knows the end is near.

“I don’t know who Ali would be if I didn’t play,” she told foxsports.com.au.

“Because it’s (the game) taught me things about who I am. And given me confidence, whereas without football, I don’t think I would have been confident or wouldn’t have had many things to do with my personality if I didn’t have football.”

Likewise, the game doesn’t know where it would be without Ali Brigginshaw either.