Lauren Brown is playing her part to change the story.
Joining the Gold Coast Titans as a marquee signing for the upcoming NRLW season, the 27-year-old has become one of the first full-time players in the women's competition, but the trailblazer's role is unique in that she will not only contribute on field, but will also be a valuable asset off it.
Holding a Bachelor of Business majoring in sports management and event management, the Queensland playmaker has also joined the club's commercial partnerships team and will work across both aspects of the club each week, allowing her to grow her fledgling playing and professional career.
"It's so exciting to be so close to being full-time and essentially myself at the moment being able to have a role in the administrative side of the club as well, it's really cool," Brown said.
"It's kind of full-time for me as I do a full day at work in the office and then can just walk down to the field and start training with the girls, so it's really cool for it to come like that."
Being a born and bred Gold Coast local, the talented half wanted to represent her hometown but never thought a chance conversation about her background with Titans chief executive Steve Mitchell would land her the position she now holds today.
"It's crazy how it came about. I was on the phone to Steve and we were just talking and he asked me about my past study experience and things like that," Brown recalled.
"I mentioned that I had an undergrad degree in business, sport management and event management and he said to leave it with him. He then made a few calls and was lucky enough to create an extra role in the partnerships team for me, which was really cool.
"My situation is what the NRL are wanting with the marquee signings. They want to encourage clubs to offer positions for the girls to work in that full-time role around the club."
Brown is one of 20 female administration staff in the Titans - which is over 50 percent of that workforce - and now a month in the role, is settling into her position, which has allowed her to see both sides of the club's operations.
"I'm quite new... only about four weeks into my role here, so I'm still finding my feet and figuring out what to do, but I have a really good team," Brown said.
"It's really cool to see the other side, like not just playing on the field, but behind the scenes and seeing what goes on and what actually is put into work to ensure that these games and trainings and everything goes ahead."
Another influential woman who has pioneered rugby league is new Titans NRLW coach and director of female rugby league Karyn Murphy - someone who Brown admires immensely and can't wait to play under.
"I think what really made me want to come was to represent my hometown, but the main thing was Karyn Murphy being named head coach," Brown said.
"I've had a couple of times with her where she has been the assistant coach for Origin in that mentor role, but I'm really excited to see her take on her own team and be a head coach.
"I think she's the greatest to ever play our game and I just am very excited to be able to pick her brains and just see what she can kind of do for me and the girls."
Murphy's reign to begin Monday
Both Brown and Murphy are playing their part to help see progress and gender equality in the greatest game of all - alongside a number of other influential women in the club such as owners Rebecca Frizelle and Joanne Kelly and the new Gold Coast marquee is excited to now see a clear pathway for the next generation of talent coming through, something that didn't exist when she was growing up.
"When I was little watching telly, I never thought this was possible. You didn't see girls running around out there playing in the NRL," Brown said.
"It's really cool to see that there is a pathway now for young girls watching TV and that one day they can aspire to play for the Gold Coast Titans."
