'You'd be surprised': Female league leaders lift lid

The Queensland Rugby League Central region has a fine reputation for producing some greats of the Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons and beyond, but it's the leadership space where women are thriving.

To celebrate International Women's Day, three female league presidents in the region share why they chose their path to the top and words of encouragement for more women to strive for leadership positions within their club or league.

Katrina Taylor is the Emerald-based president of Central Highlands Rugby League, nearing 10 years of volunteering in the game. 

Jodi Price, who has 20 years of volunteering in the game, became the first female president of the Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League in late 2021 and has been influential in bringing her marketing and business knowledge to the running of the game to help cater for a booming population.

Nadia Hoad is the newest female president in the region, taking the helm of Central West Rugby League late last year off the back of 15 years of involvement in just about every role imaginable.

Here's what they had to say about their experiences.

Why did you choose to be a league president?

Jodie Price

I was approached by the board in 2019 as they wanted to nominate me for a position. I first stepped up as the sponsorship and marketing director. I have a real estate business, so I’ve got a lot of experience in marketing and sponsorship with my business contacts and we were at a point where we needed to get more into the modern era with branding and marketing and really turn the league into a business. I could see more and more it was becoming such a big business that we needed more business minded people mixed with football minded people on the board and a lot of the presidents approached and said when our president was stepping down, asked me if I would nominate and thought we could take things in a really different direction.

Nadia Hoad

We knew the current president was hanging up the pen so to speak and I’d been president of a couple of clubs out here... treasurer, secretary, canteen convener and every other role for a club I guess. I’ve always had an interest in footy whether it be a playing capacity or volunteering. My husband has played A grade footy out here for 21 years this year so I guess this was a big pull too always going around supporting him and it has just been a really good community to be apart of. I guess I just love footy. I played the last two years of Queensland Outback too. If there’s a game going on for women out here, I’m usually always involved.

Katrina Taylor

The year Frank (Lambley, previous president) resigned it was easier for me to find another treasurer than it was to find another president, so that's where that took off. 

How have you been received as a female administrator?

Jodie Price

I don’t think I’ve treated any differently than if there was a male in the role. I’ve worked in the building industry and real estate all my life and they’ve always been very male-dominated careers and it doesn’t matter the gender, it’s about the right person and what they can bring that makes the big difference.

Nadia Hoad

I’ve never personally had a problem. I’ve kind of known a lot of the people involved for a very long time so I hope I’ve learnt the respect that would come with any admin type role at a high level and overseeing a league. I was treasurer and secretary of the Central West league a few years ago for about four years as well so I definitely am very familiar with how things work around here.

Katrina Taylor

I think I've done pretty well. We've got to have a thick skin and not give in and sometimes people think if they stand over you, you'll give in and you'll cave, but you don't. I try to be fair and that's gained me a lot of respect in the league because they know I'm fair and it doesn't matter which club you're from. I just wanted to watch people play rugby league and want it to be clean, so they know if they want to have a conversation they can have it with me and at the end of the day we can still be friends.

Did you have any hesitancy in reaching for a leadership role?

Jodie Price

Going for a board position the only question for me was time. I don’t want to take on things if I can only give 50 per cent, I have to be able to give 100 per cent. My son was well and truly done playing and out of home by the time I stepped on the board, so I had some free time. We do a lot in the community on the Sunshine Coast in the business point of view so to me this was just doing another community service and giving my time and helping where I could and taking on the board role, then the presidency.

Nadia Hoad

I don’t think so. Women’s footy has come a long way in the last few years and it’s really good to see. But in the grassroots in the outback the reality is there’s a lot of women involved.

Katrina Taylor

I was a bit hesitant at the start - I thought about it being a male-dominated sport and how it's going to go over, because most of the coaches are male and presidents here are male, how they'd go with confrontation - but I've always worked in male-dominated industries, so it didn't phase me, but I know some women have to work into that conversation.

What's the biggest barrier to women striving for a goal of league or club leadership?

Jodie Price

I think the biggest barrier is just they think they won’t be welcomed in, and it’s a myth. I’ve been welcomed with open arms, I don’t feel discussions are had any differently than if there was a male in the role and I do think women have a lot more organisational and administration skills behind the scenes and need the confidence to see more women there to step up to see anyone can do the role.

Nadia Hoad

There's a stigma that rugby league is a man's world but as the statistics are showing, even the level of women's rugby league is right up there. I hope now (women's rugby league) is being a lot more televised, a lot more open, a lot more encouragement, a lot more pathways for women to play footy I think it's good for the game in encouraging women to step up in other ways.

Katrina Taylor

I find I struggle balancing with family obligations. Sometimes you feel like you let them down with all the time you dedicate to it. But I think you need to have the right work-life balance and have the support of your partner and family. My kids are older now, so it doesn't really affect them too much.

What's your advice to women, particularly those who have other volunteer roles in the game, to encourage them to take on leadership positions at their club or league?

Jodie Price

I would tell them to step up and put your hand up – you’d be surprised how well you’ll be received. A lot of people don’t expect women want to take on these roles and when they realise you do, you’ll be very well received. Step up, lean in and take on the challenge and give it a go.

Nadia Hoad

Just don't doubt yourself. There is a lot of support around - QRL Central region manager Rob Crow is very supportive - and there are a lot of leaders around that will help you out. It definitely shouldn't be seen as a barrier, being female.

Katrina Taylor

I think the biggest thing is if you want to make change, you've got to do it from the top down. I know at times you can sit back and watch a game and think parents can be better and then get frustrated nothing happens. But if you want to make a change, you need to get up in a leadership position and improve things. To improve things you need to step up, take the chance and be in a leadership role and have a voice and I think (as president) is the perfect place.