The wife of Brisbane Broncos and Queensland Maroons star Ali Brigginshaw has spoken out after weeks of abuse targeting her family in a deeply emotional Instagram post.
Kate Brigginshaw revealed the couple has received a stream of hate messages, including some that told them to take their own lives.
‘I wasn’t going to comment or say anything,’ she wrote.
‘But with so much chat around the importance of mental health at the moment, I thought it was time I speak.’
Kate said their family has faced a wave of sexist, cruel and disturbing online abuse for more than a month.
She called out the hypocrisy of people who post mental health awareness messages while privately sending hateful and harmful messages.
‘Mental health affects everyone, in particular athletes,’ she wrote.
Queensland Maroons veteran Ali Brigginshaw has been subject to hateful messages online targeting her and her family
Brigginshaw’s wife Kate revealed their family had been subject to online abuse during the Origin series
Kate posted this letter to social media platform Instagram in a bid to stop trolls from targeting them
‘There is a fine line between a reasonable comment and what Ali and our family have been subjected to.’
Her message comes just days after the Brisbane Broncos launched a mental health jersey initiative.
It also follows Queensland’s Origin series defeat and mounting pressure on players ahead of game three.
Ali Brigginshaw, who captained the Maroons, appeared emotional after Origin II in Sydney, fearing she may have played her final game in the jersey.
Despite this, she’s been named to start at lock in Newcastle.
Kate’s post was a direct plea for compassion.
‘Bashing people on social media isn’t cool,’ she said. ‘You’re not exposing someone else – you’re exposing something ugly in yourself,’ she wrote.
‘Normal people don’t vomit hate at individuals they don’t know or send DMs telling them to kill themselves. It is incredibly damaging and dangerous.’
Queensland star Romy Teitzel consoles an emotional Brigginshaw after the Maroons lost the 2025 State of Origin series
There have been calls for Brigginshaw to stand down and let a younger star play, but despite that she has been named at lock for the dead-rubber third game in Newcastle
The Brigginshaws (pictured together at the Dally M Awards) got married in January 2021
Kate urged anyone who engages in online abuse to reflect. ‘Would you say it to someone you love? I guarantee the answer is no.’
The timing of her post has heightened public discussion about mental health in sport. It comes amid a string of tragedies involving high-profile Australian athletes.
Last week, the AFL community was rocked by the death of West Coast Eagles premiership-winning champion Adam Selwood at age 41.
His passing came just three months after his twin brother, Troy Selwood, died by suicide at 40. Adam had been fundraising for the mental health charity zero2hero in Troy’s honour.
Also in February, West Coast premiership hero Adam Hunter died suddenly at home in Bunbury. He was 43.
In March, 19-year-old triathlete Audrey Griffin was found dead in Erina Creek near Gosford. She was widely loved in the Central Coast sports community.
Snowboarding icon Luke Trembath, known as ‘The Dingo’, passed away at 38. He was remembered for his charisma and youth mentorship.
Women’s sport has also faced other challenges. NSW Origin winger Jaime Chapman is the subject of a police investigation after fake AI-generated images were spread online.
Australian sport was rocked by the sudden death of West Coast Eagles champion Adam Selwood last week
It came just months after the tragic death of his twin brother Troy Selwood who was laid to rest by his three brothers earlier this year
NSW Police are reportedly confident of identifying the perpetrator, but the damage to Chapman’s reputation and mental health is already done. Kate Brigginshaw has called for a cultural shift.
‘Please consider this the next time you leave that comment,’ she wrote. ‘Please remember these athletes are people too.’
Ali Brigginshaw, often labelled the toughest woman in rugby league, has long been a pioneer.
Raised in Ipswich, she’s captained Queensland, Brisbane, and the Australian Jillaroos, leading teams to multiple titles since 2018.
Ali and Kate first met in 2009 but didn’t connect until years later. Kate initially found Ali intimidating.
‘She thought I was a b**ch because I never spoke to her,’ Ali once said. ‘But I was just so intimidated by her looks.’
They went public with their relationship in 2018 and married in a private ceremony after getting engaged in 2019. Kate brought two children, Addison and Alfie, into the relationship – a role Ali embraced with love.
‘I always knew I wanted to be a mum,’ Ali has said. ‘Being with Kate and the kids has been a dream come true.’
Kate recently paid tribute to Ali on Mother’s Day.
‘Being a step parent is often thankless, but Ali hasn’t missed a beat,’ she wrote. ‘Our family isn’t defined by blood – it’s defined by love.’
As the sporting world continues to reckon with mental health and online abuse, Kate’s message offers a reminder of what’s at stake.
‘We’re all human. Think before you type. It might just save a life.’
For confidential 24-hour support in Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14
