Broncos champion addresses awkward Tallis situation after resigning as skipper
As Ali Brigginshaw addressed media at Broncos headquarters on Wednesday to call time on her incredible reign as the club’s NRLW captain, one question got her tearing up.
It was a question about her father Larry, a legendary Easts Tigers halfback who captained the club to a premiership in Brisbane in 1983.
Ali Brigginshaw and her Broncos teammates celebrate winning the 2025 NRLW premiership. Getty
“He is very proud,” Brigginshaw said.
“I think he doesn’t want me to finish playing. I feel like that’ll be a lost era for the family, knowing that we won’t really have those games to go to anymore with rugby league,” she added, fighting off tears.
“But I did call him this morning after the decision, and he’s always proud of me.
“Obviously he didn’t wear a Broncos jersey, but he wore a No.7 jersey and he captained the side. I’m really proud to follow in his footsteps.”
Brigginshaw has skippered the Broncos ever since the NRLW launched in 2018. She was Brisbane’s sole captain for six years and co-captained the team with star fullback Tamika Upton in 2025.
As a revered leader and champion halfback, Brigginshaw steered the Broncos to four premierships, most recently in 2025.
The 36-year-old’s ninth season in the NRLW will be her last.
“I’ve been thinking for the last couple of months, and the time is right,” she said of her resignation as captain. “Done so many amazing things here, but there’s the next group of leaders where I want them to come through, and I want to be able to support them in my last year.”
Asked which players were ready to lead the Broncos forward, Brigginshaw spoke highly of Upton, Chelsea Lenarduzzi and Romy Teitzel, and noted the club’s emerging leaders.
“I’ll still be able to do a lot of things for the team, but I’m looking forward to just supporting the next group,” Brigginshaw said.
“There’s young leaders coming through, but we also have some of the best leaders in the game.”
Brigginshaw addresses awkward Tallis call
Brigginshaw was also asked about the Broncos’ contentious decision to wipe out club legend Gorden Tallis and rename a conference room in honour of her.
The bombshell decision followed repeated attacks Tallis had launched on the Broncos and coach Michael Maguire.
“I think I’ve been here for a very long time, and I’ve worked in community the whole time I’ve been here, so I deserve what that room is and what it’s about,” she said.
“I’d spoken to [Broncos CEO] Dave Donaghy about that, and he congratulated me on what I’ve been able to do.
“I’m a one-club player and it’s something that I’m proud to say that I am. I’m very loyal to this club, and always will be.
“It didn’t have anything between me and Gordie; it was just Dave thought that I was the right fit moving forward, and being a female player, I think we do deserve a room here.”
The NRLW season will kick off with a clash between Cronulla and Newcastle on Thursday, July 2.
The Broncos will get their title defence under way against the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, July 4.
