Few athletes define a sport’s growth the way Ali Brigginshaw has in women’s rugby league. When she announced her retirement from State of Origin in January 2026, it marked the end of a 17-year journey that began as a teenager in Ipswich — a career that took her from the North Ipswich Tigers to the international stage, with her marriage to wife Kate and what comes next for one of the game’s most decorated halfbacks.
Age: 36 (born 1 December 1989) ·
Height: 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) ·
Position: Halfback ·
NRLW Games: 60+ ·
Dally M Medal: 2020 ·
State of Origin Appearances: Multiple (retired 2026)
Quick snapshot
- Born 1 December 1989 in Ipswich, Queensland (Queensland Rugby League).
- Halfback for Brisbane Broncos, 60+ NRLW games (NRL.com). (Queensland Rugby League)
- Won 2020 Dally M Medal as NRLW Player of the Year (NRL.com). (Queensland Rugby League)
- Retired from State of Origin in January 2026 (ABC News). (Queensland Rugby League)
- Whether she has children – no official source confirms or denies.
- Exact net worth and salary – not publicly disclosed.
- Details about her wedding to Kate – date and location unconfirmed.
- Exact height – discrepancy between QRL (178 cm) and NRL.com (165 cm) records.
- 2009: Queensland Origin debut at age 19 (ABC News).
- 2020: Dally M Medal, married Kate Daly.
- January 2026: Retires from Origin, final NRLW season with Broncos (ABC News).
- To complete her 2026 NRLW season with Brisbane Broncos before retiring from all rugby league.
- Potential move into coaching or motivational speaking (NRL.com).
Eight key facts, one pattern: Brigginshaw’s career is a story of consistency and leadership from her early days in Queensland to the international arena.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ali Brigginshaw |
| Date of Birth | 1 December 1989 |
| Place of Birth | Australia |
| Height | 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) |
| Position | Halfback |
| Current Team | Brisbane Broncos (NRLW) |
| Major Award | 2020 Dally M Medal |
| Spouse | Kate (surname not public) |
Who is Ali Brigginshaw?
Early life and background
Born on 1 December 1989 in Ipswich, Queensland, Brigginshaw grew up playing junior rugby league for the North Ipswich Tigers, according to Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia). She was forced to give up the sport at twelve due to a lack of girls’ teams, but returned as a teenager. Her official debut for the Valley Diehards Women’s came on 10 April 2021, Queensland Rugby League reports.
Rugby league career overview
- Represented Australia at the 2013 World Cup, scoring her first Test try against England (NRL.com).
- Longest-serving Jillaroo in the current squad with 17 Test appearances, and the leading points scorer in Jillaroos history (7 tries, 16 goals) (NRL.com).
- Won the 2020 Dally M Medal and has played every Queensland Maroons match since NRLW origin’s inception in 2018 (ABC News).
- Captained Queensland to victory in the inaugural three-match series in 2024 (ABC News).
The pattern: Brigginshaw’s career is defined by firsts—first full series captain, first Dally M halfback in NRLW, and now the first to voluntarily step away from Origin at her peak.
Is Ali Brigginshaw married?
Relationship with Kate
Brigginshaw is married to a woman named Kate, who Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia) identifies as Kate Daly. The couple reportedly became engaged in December 2019 and married on 30 December 2020, though no official ceremony details have been confirmed. In a Yahoo! News Australia article, Brigginshaw and her wife faced online trolling, which she publicly dismissed in May 2025.
Meeting and marriage
Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia) states that Brigginshaw proposed to Kate Daly in December 2019 and they wed on 30 December 2020. No public record of the wedding venue or date exists beyond this community-maintained source. The trade-off: while her personal life is partially public, key details like the wedding location and her wife’s surname remain private, a deliberate boundary for the couple.
Does Ali Brigginshaw have kids?
Family life
As of early 2026, there is no confirmed information that Brigginshaw has children. Related online searches suggest public curiosity, but no official source—neither her own statements nor verified media reports—confirms or denies children.
Public statements on children
In interviews she has not addressed the topic directly. The Yahoo! News Australia article and NRL.com profile focus solely on her rugby career and marriage, leaving the question of children unanswered.
Fans searching for “Ali Brigginshaw kids” will find zero authoritative information. That silence itself is a data point: the player has chosen not to make family additions a public story.
The implication: privacy around personal choices remains a deliberate boundary.
Has Ali Brigginshaw played in the World Cup?
World Cup appearances
Yes. Brigginshaw made her international debut for Australia at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup against England, according to NRL.com. She also represented the Jillaroos in the 2017 and 2021 tournaments (the latter played in 2022 due to COVID).
International career
- She is the leading points scorer in Jillaroos history with seven tries and 16 goals (NRL.com).
- Her 17 Test caps make her the longest-serving player in the current squad (NRL.com).
- Wikipedia adds that she played in the 2017 World Cup, though specific match logs are spotty.
What this means: Brigginshaw has been a fixture of Australian women’s rugby league on the global stage for over a decade, a span that includes three World Cup campaigns.
How tall is Ali Brigginshaw?
Physical stats
The Queensland Rugby League official profile lists her height as 178 cm. However, multiple secondary sources, including NRL.com, state 165 cm. The discrepancy is unresolved; the more commonly cited figure in sports databases is 165 cm (5 ft 5 in).
Height in context of playing position
At 165 cm, Brigginshaw is typical for a halfback—a position that relies on agility, vision, and passing accuracy rather than height. She weighs 68 kg per QRL records.
Her listed height varies by up to 13 cm across official and secondary sources. That inconsistency suggests the QRL’s 178 cm may be an overstatement, while the 165 cm figure from NRL.com appears more aligned with typical halfback builds.
Timeline
- – Born in Ipswich, Queensland.
- – Queensland Origin debut at age 19 (ABC News).
- – International debut at Rugby League World Cup (NRL.com).
- – Played in RLWC for Australia.
- – Won Dally M Medal; married Kate Daly (Wikipedia).
- – Participated in delayed 2021 World Cup.
- – Captained Queensland to inaugural three-match series win (ABC News).
- – Retired from State of Origin; announced final NRLW season with Brisbane Broncos (ABC News).
What we know vs. what we don’t
Confirmed facts
- Date of birth: 1 December 1989.
- Won the 2020 Dally M Medal.
- Retired from State of Origin in January 2026.
- Played in World Cups (2013, 2017, 2021).
- Married to Kate Daly.
What’s unclear
- Whether she has children – no source confirms or denies.
- Exact net worth and salary – not disclosed.
- Wedding details – date and location unconfirmed (Wikipedia claims 30 Dec 2020).
- Exact height – discrepancy between QRL (178 cm) and NRL.com (165 cm) records.
“I’ve been fortunate to represent Queensland over many years, but it’s time for the next generation to step up.”
— Ali Brigginshaw, as quoted by ABC News (Australian public broadcaster)
“Ali Brigginshaw is the leading points scorer in Jillaroos history and the longest-serving player in the current squad.”
For the Brisbane Broncos and the NRLW, losing Brigginshaw’s leadership after the 2026 season means finding a new halfback to build around. For fans, her legacy as a pioneer is secure—but the quiet gaps in her personal story remind us that some chapters she keeps to herself.
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Frequently asked questions
What team does Ali Brigginshaw play for?
She plays for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRLW competition.
What is Ali Brigginshaw’s jersey number?
She wears the number 7 jersey as the team’s halfback.
How many NRLW games has Ali Brigginshaw played?
She has played over 60 NRLW matches for the Brisbane Broncos, as confirmed by NRL.com.
Did Ali Brigginshaw win a Grand Final?
Yes, she has been part of multiple NRLW Grand Final-winning Broncos teams, though exact year-to-year records vary. She also captained Queensland to the inaugural three-match Origin series win in 2024.
What is Ali Brigginshaw’s height in feet?
Her height is commonly listed as 5 ft 5 in (165 cm), though QRL records show 178 cm (5 ft 10 in). The 5 ft 5 in figure is more frequently used.
Is Ali Brigginshaw a lesbian?
Yes, she is married to a woman named Kate Daly. She has spoken publicly about their relationship. In a 2025 Yahoo! News article, her wife defended Brigginshaw against online harassment.
What does Ali Brigginshaw do off the field?
Beyond playing, she works as a motivational speaker and advocate for women’s sport. Her off-field profile on NRL.com highlights her community engagement.
Alex Chen is Editor-in-Chief at Oz Monitorly, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.