THE IMPRESSIVE RISE OF NRLW

Hot on the heels of Women In League Round it’s timely that we ponder if any NRL club is truly complete without an NRLW team?

More than half the clubs have one and there is an opening in the current broadcast deal (2027) for two more to join.

For the uninitiated, NRLW started tentatively in 2018 with only four teams contesting a four-week competition – Brisbane, St George Illawarra, Sydney Roosters and the Warriors COVID stopped the competition for more than 12 months and wiped out the New Zealand team before Gold Coast, Newcastle and Parramatta joined an expanded six-team premiership on its return.

Now we’re two weeks into a 10-team competition which has welcomed Canberra, Cronulla, Wests Tigers and North Queensland.

Much like the Dolphins in the NRL, the newcomers have delivered straight away. All of them have won over the first couple of rounds. In fact, Wests Tigers lead the competition; Canberra have produced a huge upset to beat the Roosters; and Cronulla and North Queensland have had enough highlights to hold genuine Finals ambitions.

Then come the numbers – like skill statistics spiking dramatically since 2018. So too tries and points per game. There is huge growth in live action or ball-in-play. Obviously, the playing ranks are ballooning. About the only thing dropping is the average age of debutants… and the ball carriers on the end of the big hits. So, we have more players and younger players achieving better stats in a greater spectacle.

So many of the athletes have turned their backs on other sporting interests and achievements to play NRLW. It makes you wonder what the next six years hold, let alone the next 60. And to be blunt, NRLW is the highest rating women’s sport on Foxtel bar NONE!

In private corners at Fox Sports you’ll find retired greats of the men’s game enjoying NRLW, aware of the players’ names, investing time and energy in the competition, with only the most genuine interest and involvement.

It’s much like NRL Premiership winners Brett Kimmorley, Jamie Soward and Scott Prince dedicating their waking hours to be NRLW coaches.

In Canberra last Saturday there were almost 3000 fans in GIO Stadium at kick-off to the NRLW game. It was 5000 by half-time and nearly 10k as they celebrated a historic first win on home soil. For months I’ve seen NRLW captain Simaima Taufa standing sideline to support the Canberra men. It was great to see the male Raiders doing likewise for Simaima.

Having an women’s team means greater costs, more work and no doubt a heap more headaches. Yet ask the clubs if they’d change a thing!

If the last six years are an indication, why shouldn’t we strive for 12 teams as soon as possible?

Asked to nominate his preferred expansion locations, Tigers great Steve Roach didn’t hesitate.

“The Warriors and Panthers. The Warriors give us another country. Penrith provides a huge catchment and a growth area,” he said. With the Panthers’ ongoing NRL success, it’s only a matter of time.