The kiss between partners and rival footballers Vanessa Foliaki and Karina Brown after their State of Origin match last month has already become an iconic image, emblematic of the diversity and sportsmanship brought by the women's game – but the fuss made in the wake of its publication wasn't easy on the players.

Foliaki has now spoken out about the media attention on the pair's post-game display of affection, revealing the backlash along with her Tongan background made it tough.

Karina Brown and Vanessa Foliaki embraced at the end of the inaugural women's State of Origin match. Credit:NRL

Foliaki and Brown live together but are rugby league rivals – Brown plays for Queensland and former Aucklander Foliaki for New South Wales, though they have played together for the Australian national team, the Jillaroos.

They embraced after the women's Origin match in June, won by NSW, and the NRL posted the image on social media.