In a beautiful convergence of contemporary art and elite sport, Harvey Norman Women in League (WIL) and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia) today announce The Harvey Norman Art Commission – The Captains, a major portrait commission celebrating the 12 incredible leaders of the National Women’s Rugby League (NRLW) teams.
Moving away from the high-octane action photography typically associated with sports media, this commission reframes these sportswomen through the lens of contemporary art to reveal their power, strength and spirit like never before.
Australian artist Cherine Fahd has been commissioned to create the striking new series of portraits featuring the 12 women.
Fahd is known for using photography as a social and collaborative practice. Her portraits are shaped through the encounter between photographer and subject, where a shared understanding of the performance in front of the camera takes shape through conversation and improvisation.
Since its inception, the NRLW has transformed the Australian sporting landscape, proving that women’s rugby league is an unstoppable powerhouse of skill, resilience and unyielding athleticism. Harvey Norman has been a naming partner of the Women in League Round for 20 years, championing women and transforming them from grassroots players into household names.
Now, this commission stops the clock to pause and reflect, taking the 12 captains and leaders – who carry the hopes of entire clubs, communities and a generation of young players on their shoulders – off the field and into the studio, where performance takes on a whole new form.
Each individual was invited to bring objects connected to her experience of the game. In the studio, these items became part of the exchange between player, pose and camera. Photographed on a simple plinth in black and white, the portraits draw on classical sculpture to place women’s athleticism within a long visual history of inner and outer strength.
Cherine Fahd said, ‘The captains have spent years training, competing and committing themselves. Their achievements create a legacy for the girls and women who come after them. Portraiture gives that contribution a form. It names their dedication, discipline and presence in this moment, and makes it visible.’
Katie Page, Harvey Norman CEO and founding Director of the Harvey Norman Women in League marked the 20th Anniversary milestone, 'Our Captains are Warrior Women. While their power and agility are clearly visible in motion on the field of play, Cherine’s talent has captured that same force in single images. Her work immortalises those fleeting, pivotal moments in time, embodying the talent, the x-factor that sets our game apart.'
‘The Captains exhibition is a testament to the force that is created when the community-wide influence of art and sport are combined. Cherine’s portraits embody the warrior spirit of our Captains and with that she has honoured all those who are responsible for realising the exceptional Women’s game as we know it today.’
Suzanne Cotter, Director of MCA Australia said, ‘Sport and art may at first seem very different, but both demand, and celebrate, discipline, imagination, strength and creativity. In bringing the stories of extraordinary female athletes into the Museum, we recognise that their achievements extend far beyond the pitch. This commission
invites Australians to see them not just as sporting icons, but as cultural leaders whose influence inspires us all.’
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said the NRLW leaders commission is a fitting legacy piece to commemorate 20 years of Women In League Round.
‘Harvey Norman has championed Women’s Rugby League from the beginning, and we are proud of our partnership over the last 20 years celebrating women at every level, and in every facet of the game through Women In League Round.’
‘The NRLW competition is the ultimate stage in elite Women’s Rugby League, and the portrait captures a moment in time that showcases the players that have helped to establish our game as the number one female code in the country.’
For Harvey Norman Women in League Round, this partnership represents 20 years of proud partnership and support for the NRLW, propelling conversations around equality and female sportsmanship from the turf of the stadium to the walls of Australia’s premier contemporary art institution.
The project aims to create a lasting record of this generation of leaders and their contribution to the sport and serves as a permanent archive of the incredible achievements of women’s rugby league. It is a testament to an era where female athletes do not just play the game; they redefine what leadership looks like in modern Australian society.
The completed portrait series will be unveiled at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, accompanied by public programming and panel discussions exploring ideas of gender, power and sport in contemporary culture.
The portraits feature:
- Apii Nicholls, New Zealand Warriors
- Brooke Anderson, St. George Illawarra Dragons
- Emma Manzelmann, North Queensland Cowboys
- Georgia Hale, Gold Coast Titans
- Isabelle Kelly, Sydney Roosters
- Jada Ferguson, Brisbane Broncos
- Kezie Apps, Wests Tigers
- Mahalia Murphy, Parramatta Eels
- Tayla Preston, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
- Tiana Penitani Gray, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
- Yasmin Meakes, Newcastle Knights
- Zahara Temara, Canberra Raiders
Public programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Curator talk: Cherine Fahd
Wednesday 15 July, 4.15pm
Join curator Anna Davis for insights into Cherine Fahd’s series of portraits The Captains, created for The Harvey Norman Art Commission.
Design your own jersey!
Wednesday 15 July to Tuesday 11 August
Inspired by Cherine Fahd’s series of portraits The Captains, this activity invites you to get creative and design a jersey in honour of a woman you want to celebrate. harveynorman.com.au/promos/nrl-women-in-league-round
School holidays: The big picture
Friday 17 and Saturday 18 July, 10am–2pm
During the July school holidays, families can add their creativity to a collaborative patchwork, piece by piece.
The art of portraiture: Photography workshop with Cherine Fahd
Thursday 30 July, 6–7.30pm
Bring a friend to the MCA and learn the art of portraiture with artist Cherine Fahd. Suitable for any experience level, for ages 18+. This relaxed evening includes drinks and light refreshments.
Artist plus one: Cherine Fahd
Sunday 9 August, 2–2.30pm
Join a conversation between acclaimed artist Cherine Fahd and a NRLW leader. Learn about the making of Fahd’s striking series of portraits The Captains, created for The Harvey Norman Art Commission, and the sitter’s experience stepping off the field and into the studio.
About Harvey Norman Women in League
In 2007, the Harvey Norman Women in League initiative was established to celebrate, acknowledge, and champion the incredible women of all ages from every dimension of the Rugby League community.
Twenty years later, this dedicated round has helped supercharge the powerhouse we know as the Jillaroos and NRLW today. The journey of the women's game is marked by monumental milestones that have redefined the sporting landscape:
2007: The official launch of the Women in League initiative, placing women's contributions at the heart of the code. 2018: The historic inception of the NRLW competition, giving elite female athletes the professional stage they deserved. Growing from four foundation clubs to a thriving 12 teams today. In parallel we have witnessed The Rise of Women’s Origin – the explosive growth of the Women’s State of Origin to become a record-breaking three-game series.
Today, the game boasts 12 NRLW teams, a passionate fanbase, and an incredible network of women – including volunteers, CEOs, media trailblazers, referees, coaches, and board members – all of whom continue to shape our sport and drive its future.
