'Welcome to 2018': NRL defends photo of women league players' kiss
The NRL has hit back at critics of a photo of two rugby league players from rival teams kissing after the end of the women's inaugural State of Origin match on Friday night.
The photo captured an embrace between NZ-born NSW player Vanessa Foliaki and Queenslander Karina Brown in the middle of the pitch following the end of the game.
The couple, who have been together since 2014, are usually teammates for the national league squad, the Jillaroos, but faced off against each other for a competitive match on rival teams in the Origin match.
The photo was shared by NRL and Women's Rugby League on Facebook with the caption "#OurWay", but generated a mixed response. Replying to one critic on Facebook, the NRL wrote: "Welcome to 2018... can't wait for you to join us!"
Karina Brown and Vanessa Foliaki embraced at the end of the inaugural women's State of Origin match on Friday.
The NRL also hit back against comments suggesting the NRL was "sexualising" the game by sharing the photo.
"If we can post a [photo] of Cooper Cronk and his wife Tara kissing, then we can share a photo of Karina Brown and Ness Foliaki sharing a moment too," the NRL wrote.
Meanwhile, others expressed surprise at the cross-border relationship, commenting on the photo: "How can someone kiss a Queenslander?"
Describing their relationship to NRL earlier this month, Brown and Foliaki said they had been openly competitive with each other in the lead-up to the Origin match, at times not even talking with each other so they can focus on the sport.
Auckland-born Foliaki moved to Australia eight years ago.
"It was always a dream to play for New Zealand, but since I moved here I got my opportunity and I want to keep playing for Australia," she told the Central Western Daily in 2015.
In April, controversial rugby player Israel Folau came under fire after saying gay people were destined to go to hell.
The Wallabies player was asked on his Instagram account what was "God's plan for gay people", and he replied: "HELL. Unless they repent of their sins and turn to God."
Karina Brown and Vanessa Foliaki have been together since 2014 and are team-mates in the Australian national side.
- SMH
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