My Why: Jodie Cunningham | Part 1

Have you ever wondered what is YOUR WHY?

Saints captain Jodie Cunningham sat down to tell us ‘her why’ for playing the greatest game, and discusses this year’s campaign ahead of the Betfred Women’s Super League Grand Final on Saturday 6 October, when St Helens face York Valkyrie.

“This year we wanted to focus on ‘My Why.’ It’s really personal to each individual and it’s what everyone’s reasons are for why they do what they do, why they work so hard, why they play the game and why it means so much to them,” Cunningham explained.

“’My Why’ is all about little girls that are inspired to play because of what we do.

“It’s something I never had. I never had any women that I knew playing the game. I couldn't name you one woman who played when I started playing rugby league and now we've got hundreds and hundreds of young girls that are showing up to the games now with our names on the back, desperate for photographs and of things to be signed and saying how much we’ve inspired them. And I think that's such a powerful thing that we mustn’t take for granted.

“It's a huge responsibility, but it’s why I keep going. That's my why when things get tough – and I think about these little girls whose dreams you're helping to make come true.

“It means the world for me to play in finals and to have all these trophies. Of course it does. But for me, making it even better for the next generation is massive, and hopefully when I’m retired these finals will be even better than they have been before, because of the work we're doing now.”

This year the St Helens’ and York Valkyrie players will each select a young girl or person who is special to them, to be their game day mascot at the 2024 Grand Final.

With both the platform and profile to empower the next generation, Cunningham recognised the importance of holding such a position:

“I’ve had quite a few young girls and families getting in touch to say how much of an inspiration I’ve been – especially in these past few seasons in Women's Super League when we've had more profile,” said Cunningham.

“For me, my mascot this year is a young girl called Nalani. She is going to be my why in this year’s Grand Final.

“Nalani doesn’t play rugby league herself, but her dad is a big Saints fan and Nilani didn't like that her dad was going to games on his own.

“She wasn’t into rugby at first, but just wanted to go with her dad to keep him company. But she didn't really like going to the men's games, so her dad suggested trying out one of the women’s games instead.

“They came to watch us play and Nalani couldn't believe that women or girls played rugby league. It shows those stereotypes are still there even in the really young generations.

“The impact was powerful. Her dad is really open minded and yet still his little daughter was thinking that girls couldn't play a sport like rugby league, and she’s since fallen in love with it. And it’s something that they do together. 

“Nalani and her dad Dave come to all the games. Her last name is actually ‘Cunningham.’ There’s no relation or connection, but I think that’s why I’ve become her favourite player because she could see herself in the Red V and we obviously have the same names - she has the name ‘Cunningham’ on her back.

“She’s amazing and she's actually a really committed dancer, and we all talked a lot about what we do in terms of inspiring her to work hard and be resilient in her dancing. 

“She sees that on the pitch for us. So even though she doesn't play, she's inspired by what we do and how we're strong - women who are breaking down stereotypes. Her dad thinks that's really important for her to see as a young girl."

Nalani's dad, Dave, commented: "For Nalani, the resilience and determination is what will take her towards her dream. She looks at the hard work the Saints girls put in to get where they are and she knows she needs to do the same.

"As much as I say to her that she can achieve anything she puts her mind to with hard work and determination, it is something else to see it in action. That's where Jodie and the girls come in.

"While Nalani doesn't play rugby, the example the women set are no less important and the lessons are transferable in any walk of life. Seeing other 'girls' going out and competing the way they do shows that you can do it and achieve whatever you want if you just keep going. I would just like to say thank you to them all for setting an incredible example."

Cunningham added: “It’s amazing for girls who even aren't playing. We're inspiring in different ways. 

“You don’t have to play to enjoy watching Women's Super League to have role models and heroes in the game. It’s really nice that Nalani can look up to myself and the rest of the girls and use that to channel into her dancing.”

And as St Helens’ Head of Pathways, Cunningham has become an iconic figure in the growth of Women’s & Girls Rugby League, and an incredible ambassador for both her club and the wider sport as a whole.

As a trailblazer and inspiration for more young players, especially young girls to participate in rugby league, she said:

“I've always had such a strong belief in the potential of women and girls, rugby league and not everyone's seen it, but people are starting to – and that’s really special.
 
“I think it’s felt like a one-man band at times years ago and it was always met with negativity around the quality or whether it was even worth people's time and investment. That was hard to take when it was your life and it was everything you cared about.

“From the minute I picked up a ball at 12-years-old it became my life, and I just couldn't imagine doing anything but this. I just loved it. It was a top priority above all else. So then when people can't see the value in that, it can be frustrating at times.

“But now, the Women’s Super League gets women out there and people are admiring us for the athletes we are, the people we and what we deliver on pitch.

“People are really starting to get behind what we deliver as a product – the girls just need a chance to be exposed to rugby league to actually fall in love with it.

“I wasn't a rugby person, I didn't watch rugby league and my family didn't play rugby league so if it for my friends forcing me – I would've never have got involved in rugby league in any way.

“But or as soon as I did, I fell in love with it and was in it for life.

“I think for me what's important is that we give young girls the chance to do that because it's always been excluded for women and girls in a lot of ways. And actually, in the last 5-6 years it’s really opened rugby league up to a new audience and ways of getting involved, not just as players.

“It’s about inspiring the next generation. It's a way of parents, it's way of dads, daughters, mums, daughters, connecting in a different way and coming down to what is a really family friendly environment. 

“It’s really important that we keep exposing our women’s game.

“Young girls have got chances which they have never had before. They can see genuine role models that they can go and be, and they can go down to stadiums and experience it as a fan. And nowadays, there are all these routes and paths where you can get involved playing or coaching - and young girls wanting and aspiring to be in the media or work in the sport is really important as well.

“I think that Women's Super League is providing that opportunity in loads of ways to shine a light on how accessible it is and how much of a place women and girls can and should have in our sport.”

To be continued...

The Betfred Women’s Super League Grand Final will take place at The Totally Wicked Stadium on Sunday 6 October (K.O. 4.30pm) and will be shown live on Sky Sports. 

Be there to witness the action with tickets on sale now!