Professor Catharine Lumby calls for women's State of Origin to prove NRL is serious about Women in League Rouse Hill Rhinos Under 8 Rugby League girls (L-R) Tatum Crook (7), Gabrielle Connelly (6), and Sophia Difrancesco (8) warm up before their game. Picture: Dempster Jane Source: The Sunday Telegraph A WOMEN'S State of Origin rugby league match should be held as the opening game for the men's clash if the NRL wants to prove that it is serious about getting more women involved at all levels of the game. The game's gender adviser Professor Catharine Lumby punted up the proposal, saying that women in rugby league were still "invisible." "But people like (former Penrith Panthers prop) Frank Puletua are passionate about making women visible, whether it is mums, sisters, fans but also women playing league and refereeing league," she said. I think we have a huge way to go in rugby league with that. While women make up 45 per cent of NRL fans the numbers are dismally low at management level and operations roles, while women's football struggles to gain any recognition in the media. But Professor Lumby, who has been working with the NRL since 2004 to improve footballers' attitude towards women, is championing a female State of Origin game on par with the men's. "A few years ago I addressed a forum of teenage girls at the Town Hall and I said 'I would like to see girls playing State of Origin'," she said. I was shocked when they burst into applause. People will laugh if you say 'I want to see girls playing State of Origin'. Well, why not? What is the obstacle? The good thing is we don't have testicles. I'd like to see girls against girls. I would love to see it. Yet women are still facing a mammoth battle for equality on the football field. Last February at the All Stars match the women's curtain- raiser game was bumped because the under-16s team officials were annoyed they were not given that star billing. Three women were sent to the teams to tell them they would not be playing as the curtain-raiser. All Star vice- captain Tahnee Norris said the women were furious. "We were all livid," Ms Norris said. It is clear the new NRL administration is aware of the gender gap and is currently making changes to encourage more women into management levels and to play the game.NRL chief Dave Smith has said that this year he aims to create a clear pathway and opportunities for female players to go from the under-6s to the Jillaroos. "We are working with the current board of the Australian Women's Rugby League to fully integrate the women's and girls' game under the ARLC through the Game Development department," Mr Smith told the audience at the annual Women in League lunch this week. For the first time our Jillaroos will compete in their World Cup campaign under the banner of the ARL Commission. We will also provide financial assistance to them. This is an important step which shows our female players - the fastest growing participants in our game - that we are serious about this being your sport. Mr Smith's speech this week at the annual Women in League lunch indicated there was to be a greater move in changing the culture when it came to women. "The business of rugby league is changing, the face of rugby league is changing with it, changing to reflect that women are not only the backbone of our game but a critical part of our future," Mr Smith told the lunch. This year's Women in League lunch demonstrated a shift from a sole focus on WAGs and mothers of footballers - to women who actually play the game. Norris said for the first time she felt women's football was truly celebrated during the annual women's round. "It's definitely changing," Ms Norris said.