NRL Women's Premiership

Telstra Women's Premiership (NRLW)

Current season or competition: 2022 NRL Women's season
Sport	Rugby league
Instituted	6 December 2017
Inaugural season	2018
CEO	Andrew Abdo
Number of teams	6 (10 from 2023)
Country	Australia (6 teams)
Premiers	Newcastle Knights (1st title) (2022)
Most titles	Brisbane Broncos (3 titles)
Website	nrl.com
Broadcast partner	Australia Broadcast Nine Network Fox League Streaming 9Now Kayo Sports Overseas Broadcast International broadcasters Streaming Watch NRL
Related competition	National Rugby League NSWRL Women's Premiership QRL Women's Premiership Tarsha Gale Cup

The Telstra NRL Women's Premiership (NRLW) is Australia's national rugby league competition for female players. The first season of the league began in September 2018 with four teams. The league is run by the National Rugby League (NRL) and is contested by a subset of clubs from that competition. The current premiers are the Newcastle Knights.

History

See also: Women's rugby league in Australia

In 2016, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and St. George Illawarra Dragons contested a Women's Nine's match, which served as a curtain-raiser to the NRL match between the Sharks and Sydney Roosters, at Southern Cross Group Stadium. The Sharks won the match 16–12. ^{[1] [2]}

In March 2017, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks played another Women's Nine's match, this time defeating the Canberra Raiders by 28–10. ^[3]

2017 – 2020: Establishment

On 6 December 2017, shortly after the conclusion of the 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup, which concluded with the Jillaroos defeating the New Zealand Ferns by 23–16 in the final, ^[4] it was announced by the National Rugby League that the inaugural NRL Women's season would operate in a round-robin format, and be held in August 2018, towards the back end of the men's season, with some matches to be played as curtain-raisers to NRL finals matches. The Grand Final, which will be contested between the top two teams at the end of the round robin stage, will be played on the same day as the men's Grand Final. It was also announced that a stand-alone State of Origin match would also be contested in the representative weekend, in June. ^[5]

The Newcastle Knights, St. George Illawarra Dragons, ^{[6] [7] [8]} Brisbane Broncos, New Zealand Warriors, ^[9] Sydney Roosters, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks ^[10] all declared their interest in applying for a licence to participate in the inaugural NRL Women's competition. ^[11] Other clubs, such as the Melbourne Storm, ^[12] Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Gold Coast Titans, North Queensland Cowboys, Canberra Raiders, Wests Tigers, Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, all decided to delay bidding until at least the next season, citing money and time constraints. ^[13]

On 27 March 2018, the National Rugby League announced that the Brisbane Broncos, New Zealand Warriors, St. George Illawarra Dragons and Sydney Roosters had won bids to participate in the inaugural NRL Women's competition, to commence in September 2018. ^{[14] [15]}

2021 – present: Competition expansion

In June 2021 the NRL announced that the NRLW competition would commence expansion and increase to six teams. Initially this meant adding an additional two teams to the competition; however, the New Zealand Warriors announced that they were withdrawing from the competition due to difficulties of moving through borders during the COVID pandemic and an exodus of players and officials. This created an additional spot in the competition, with the NRL announcing that the Gold Coast Titans, Newcastle Knights and Parramatta Eels would be joining the competition for the 2021 season to keep numbers at six. ^[16]

In March 2022, the National Rugby League and Australian Rugby League Commission announced that NRLW competition will further expand over the course of the 2023 and 2024 seasons by adding two clubs in each season. ^{[17] [18]} Clubs were invited to make submissions to join the league and were required to by April 2022, six were received. ^[19] The Six clubs that made submissions for an NRLW licence in the expanded competition were: Canberra Raiders, ^{[20] [21]} Cronulla Sharks, ^[22] North Queensland Cowboys, ^{[23] [24] [25]} South Sydney Rabbitohs, ^[26] Penrith Panthers and Wests Tigers. ^[27] The New Zealand Warriors had previously indicated their desire to return a team to the NRLW competition ^[28] however, they did not place a submission at this time.

In June 2022, the NRL changed their stance and decided to bring all expansion sides in together with the announcement that the four teams would all be admitted in the 2023 season, ^[29] and that those four clubs were to be: Canberra, Cronulla, North Queensland and Wests Tigers. ^{[30] [31]} The 2023 NRLW season will run for 11 weeks (9 rounds, Semi-Finals and a Grand Final).

Following the announcement both the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Penrith Panthers released statements congratulating the clubs that had been chosen, and that they both would be interested in joining the competition in future seasons. ^{[32] [33]}

Clubs

NRL Women's operates on a single table system, with no divisions, conferences nor promotion and relegation from other leagues.

The competition's 6 teams are based across 2 states of Australia.

Current clubs

Club	City/Cities	Home Venue(s) (capacity)	Est.	Joined	Premierships
					Total	Last
Brisbane Broncos	Brisbane (Milton)	Suncorp Stadium (52,500)	1988	2018	3	2020
Gold Coast Titans	Gold Coast (Robina)	Cbus Super Stadium (27,400)	2007	2021	0	—
Newcastle Knights	Newcastle (New Lambton)	McDonald Jones Stadium (33,000)	1988	2021	1	2022
Parramatta Eels	Sydney (Parramatta)	Bankwest Stadium (30,000)	1947	2021	0	—
St. George Illawarra Dragons	Sydney (St. George), Wollongong	Netstrata Jubilee Stadium (20,500), WIN Stadium (23,000)	1998	2018	0	—
Sydney Roosters	Sydney (Eastern Suburbs)	Sydney Cricket Ground (48,000)	1908	2018	1	2021

Brisbane

Gold Coast

Newcastle

Parramatta

St. George Illawarra

Sydney

Sydney

class=notpageimage|

Locations of the participating clubs

Future clubs

Club	City/Cities	Home Venue(s) (capacity)	Est.	Joining
Canberra Raiders	Canberra	GIO Stadium or Raiders Belconnen	1982	2023
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks	Sydney (Cronulla ,Woolooware)	PointsBet Stadium	1967	2023
North Queensland Cowboys	Townsville	Queensland Country Bank Stadium	1995	2023
Wests Tigers	Sydney (Campbelltown, Leichhardt)	Campbelltown Stadium, CommBank Stadium, Leichhardt Oval	2000	2023

Club in recess

Club	City/Town	Est.	Joined	Entered recess	Premierships
					Total	Most recent
New Zealand Warriors	Auckland	1995	2018	2020	0	—

Players

Members of the St. George Illawarra Dragons NRL Women's team assemble outside Jubilee Oval during a promotional appearance in August 2018

See also: List of current NRL Women's team squads

The club's playing lists were constructed from scratch through the later stages of 2018. All participants in the 2018 season were required to be over the age of 17.

Initially, clubs were asked to nominate a list of desired players, with the NRL assigning two of these "marquee" players to each club. In addition, clubs were able to sign a number of players with existing connections to the club, or with arrangements for club sponsored work or study.

Salary

See also: NRL salary cap

NRL Women's Premiership hands contracts to 40 elite women players. ^{[34] [35] [36]}

The top level salary is $60,000 (excluding marquee deals). Representative Origin payments are $6,000 per game. ^[37]

Season structure

Pre-season

Prior to the commencement of the home-and-away season teams are paired off to play an exhibition trial match.

Premiership season

See also: 2020 NRL Women's season

The season operates using a Round-robin format, with the top two finishing teams to contest the Grand Final which is to be held on the same day as the men's NRL Grand Final. ^[5] The draw is structured around the men's finals series. ^[38]

The rules and regulations are mostly the same as in the men's game, with a few exceptions: ^[39]

• original matches were sixty minutes long, with thirty minutes in each half. 2022 season revised to seventy minute matches, consisting of thirty-five minutes per half.
• ten interchanges in each match, with an additional two during golden point; and
• a 40/30 kick advantage providing for tactical kicking and unpredictability during matches.

Postseason

In October 2018, NRL announced the inaugural edition of Rugby League World Cup 9s in Western Sydney on 18–19 October 2019, featuring 12 international men's teams and 4 women's teams. ^[40] This would be around one month after the Women's Grand Final and preseason tournament Auckland Nines in previous years was replaced.

Seasons

Season	Teams	Premiers	Runners-up	Minor Premiers	Wooden Spoon
NRL Women's Premiership
2018	4	Brisbane Broncos	Sydney Roosters	Brisbane Broncos	St George Illawarra Dragons
2019	4	Brisbane Broncos (2)	St George Illawarra Dragons	Brisbane Broncos (2)	Sydney Roosters
2020	4	Brisbane Broncos (3)	Sydney Roosters (2)	Brisbane Broncos (3)	St George Illawarra Dragons (2)
2021*	6	Sydney Roosters	St George Illawarra Dragons (2)	Brisbane Broncos (4)	Newcastle Knights
2022	6	Newcastle Knights	Parramatta Eels	Sydney Roosters	Gold Coast Titans

* The 2021 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the season started on 27 February 2022 and was completed on 10 April.

Grand Finals

Season	Premiers	Score	Runners-up	Referee(s)	Venue	Date	Att.
2018	Brisbane Broncos	34 – 12	Sydney Roosters	Jon Stone Kasey Badger	ANZ Stadium Sydney	30 September 2018	16,214
2019	Brisbane Broncos	30 – 6	St George Illawarra Dragons	Kasey Badger Daniel Schwass	ANZ Stadium Sydney	6 October 2019	36,785
2020	Brisbane Broncos	20 – 10	Sydney Roosters	Belinda Sharpe	ANZ Stadium Sydney	25 October 2020
2021	Sydney Roosters	16 – 4	St George Illawarra Dragons	Belinda Sharpe	Moreton Daily Stadium Brisbane	10 April 2022	7,855
2022	Newcastle Knights	32 - 12	Parramatta Eels	Kasey Badger	Accor Stadium Sydney	2 October 2022	42,921

Awards

The following major individual awards and accolades are presented each season:

• Best & Fairest Trophy – to the best and fairest player in the league, voted by the referees
• Leading Try Award – to the player who scores the most tries during the home-and-away season
• Rookie of the Year – ^[41]
• Veronica White Medal – ^[42]
• Karyn Murphy Medal – the best player on the ground in the Grand Final, voted by a committee of media members ^[43]

Records

Most Individual Points

Table last updated 3 October 2022 (after the Grand Final of the 2022 Season).

Rank	Player	Debut	Seasons	Mat.	Tries	Goals	FG	Points	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
1	Zahara Temara	2018	5	24	2	43	1	95	4m 3g	3m	4m 1t 9g	7m 10g 1fg	6m 1t 21g
2	Kirra Dibb	2019	4	18	2	27	0	62	—	3m 4g	3m 1t 4g	5m 4g	7m 1t 15g
3	Lauren Brown	2020	3	15	1	26	0	56	—	—	4m 1t	6m 19g	5m 7g
4	Meg Ward	2018	3	10	3	18	0	48	3m 1t	3m 1t 5g	4m 1t 13g	—	—
4	Tamika Upton	2019	4	16	12	0	0	48	—	3m 1t	4m 5t	4m 1t	5m 5t
6	Rachael Pearson	2021	2	12	1	20	1	45	—	—	—	6m 1t 12g	6m 8g 1fg
7	Chelsea Baker	2018	2	7	2	18	0	44	4m 2t 15g	3m 3g	—	—	—
7	Madison Bartlett	2019	4	16	11	0	0	44	—	2m 1t	3m 1t	6m 6t	5m 3t
9	Teagan Berry	2020	3	14	10	1	0	42	—	—	1m 1t 1g	7m 4t	6m 5t
10	Julia Robinson	2018	5	18	9	0	0	36	4m 2t	3m 1t	4m 2t	2m 1t	5m 3t
10	Isabelle Kelly	2018	5	22	9	0	0	36	4m 2t	3m	2m	7m 4t	6m 3t
12	Maddie Studdon	2018	4	13	1	15	1	35	2m	4m 8g	2m	5m 1t 7g 1fg	—
13	Tayla Preston	2022	1	6	1	15	0	34	—	—	—	—	6m 1t 15g
13	Ali Brigginshaw	2018	5	23	7	3	0	34	4m 2t	4m 1t	4m 1t	6m 1t	5m 2t 3g
15	Steph Hancock	2018	5	22	8	0	0	32	4m	4m	3m	6m 4t	5m 4t
15	Jessica Sergis	2018	5	22	8	0	0	32	3m 1t	4m 3t	3m 1t	6m 1t	6m 2t
17	Jaime Chapman	2020	3	14	7	0	0	28	—	—	3m	6m 3t	5m 4t
17	Shenae Ciesiolka	2020	3	14	7	0	0	28	—	—	3m	6m 4t	5m 3t
17	Tiana Penitani	2019	4	16	7	0	0	28	—	4m 2t	2m 1t	5m 2t	5m 2t
17	Simaima Taufa	2018	5	22	7	0	0	28	4m	2m 2t	4m	5m 1t	7m 4t
21	Tarryn Aiken	2019	4	19	6	1	0	26	—	4m	4m 1t	6m 2t	5m 3t 1g
22	Jayme Fressard	2020	3	12	6	0	0	24	—	—	3m	4m 1t	5m 5t
23	Shaniah Power	2020	3	13	6	0	0	24	—	—	2m 2t	6m 1t	5m 3t
23	Olivia Kernick	2021	2	13	6	0	0	24	—	—	—	7m 3t	6m 3t
25	Taleena Simon	2018	2	5	5	0	0	20	4m 4t	—	1m 1t	—	—
25	Jesse Southwell	2022	1	7	2	6	0	20	—	—	—	—	7m 2t 6g
25	Romy Teitzel	2020	3	13	5	0	0	20	—	—	1m	5m 2t	7m 3t
25	Emma Tonegato	2021	2	13	5	0	0	20	—	—	—	7m 4t	6m 1t
25	Kimiora Breayley-Nati	2018	4	16	3	4	0	20	4m 3t	1m	—	6m 4g	5m
25	Yasmin Clydsdale	2020	3	18	5	0	0	20	—	—	4m 2t	7m 1t	7m 2t
25	Quincy Dodd	2019	4	18	5	0	0	20	—	1m	4m 3t	7m 1t	6m 1t
25	Millie Boyle	2019	4	20	5	0	0	20	—	4m	4m 1t	5m 3t	7m 1t
25	Chelsea Lenarduzzi	2018	5	22	5	0	0	20	4m	3m 1t	4m 2t	6m 1t	5m 1t

Premierships

Tally	Club	Seasons
3	Brisbane Broncos	2018, 2019, 2020
1	Sydney Roosters	2021
1	Newcastle Knights	2022

Most consecutive

• 3 - Brisbane Broncos (2018 to 2020)

Runners-Up

Tally	Club	Seasons
2	St. George Illawarra Dragons	2019, 2021
2	Sydney Roosters	2018, 2020
1	Parramatta Eels	2022

Minor Premierships

Tally	Club	Seasons
4	Brisbane Broncos	2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
1	Sydney Roosters	2022

Most consecutive

• 4 - Brisbane Broncos (2018 to 2021)

Matches played

All Time Ladder
Pos	Team	First game	Pld	W	L	D	W%
1	Brisbane Broncos	9th September 2018	23	16	7	0	69.57%
2	Sydney Roosters	8th September 2018	24	12	12	0	50.00%
3	Newcastle Knights	27th February 2022	12	6	6	0	50.00%
4	St. George Illawarra Dragons	9th September 2018	23	11	12	0	47.82%
5	New Zealand Warriors	8th September 2018	9	4	5	0	44.44%
6	Gold Coast Titans	27th February 2022	12	4	8	0	33.33%
7	Parramatta Eels	27th February 2022	12	4	8	0	33.33%

Last updated: 3 October 2022

Media coverage

Television

In its inaugural season all matches will be televised live by affiliate partners the Nine Network and Fox League. ^[44] And NRLWRAP

Online

The official internet/mobile broadcast partner of the NRL is 9Now and Kayo Sports.

Outside Australia, the inaugural season is available on Watch NRL.

Corporate relations

Sponsorship

Holden is the league's past and inaugural naming rights partner. ^{[45] [46]}

Telstra is the league's naming rights partner.

All playing and training equipment as well as all licensed apparel and hats for the league's four clubs are manufactured by Nike.

Other league sponsors include Rebel Sport, ^[47] Harvey Norman and Kellogg's.

The official ball supplier is Steeden. ^[48]

Merchandising

Official match day attire together with other club merchandise is sold through the NRL's stores and website as well through the clubs and through some retailers.

See also

Australia portal

New Zealand portal

Sports portal

• List of sports awards honoring women
• Australia women's national rugby league team
• Women's rugby league in Australia
• Australian Women's Rugby League
• National Rugby League
• Women's Super League
• NZRL Women's National Tournament

References

1. Lulham, Amanda (29 August 2016). "Women's rugby league passes test with flying colours as Cronulla beat Dragons in historic nines match". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Retrieved 7 December 2017.
2. Carayannis, Michael (27 August 2016). "The Sharks have beaten the Dragons 16–12 in a historic NRL womens nines match". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Retrieved 7 December 2017.
3. Coman, James (11 March 2017). "Women's Nines: Sharks defeat Raiders". Raiders.com.au. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
4. "Women's Rugby League World Cup: Australia's Jillaroos beat New Zealand 23–16 in final to claim world title". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 2 December 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
5. Bungard, Matt (6 December 2017). "NRL 2018: National women's competition set to run next season". Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 7 December 2017.
6. Bungard, Matt; Proszenko, Adrian (6 December 2017). "NRL 2018: Knights, Dragons first to declare bids for licences for women's tournament". Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 7 December 2017.
7. Jennings, Mitch (22 February 2018). "Apps backs Dragons women's NRL bid". Bega District News. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
8. "Dragons confirm interest in women's competition". Dragons.com.au. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
9. Barnsley, Warren (20 December 2017). "New women's NRL excites Jillaroos but more details are needed, say players". Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 20 December 2017.
10. Bollen, Fiona (9 March 2018). "NRL women's comp starts 2018, what we know and don't know about it". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
11. Perry, Jodan (6 December 2017). "NRL Women's Premiership a dream come true for Jillaroos hero Ruan Sims". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 7 December 2017.
12. Cavanagh, Chris (6 December 2017). "Melbourne Storm pushing for team in new women's competition". Herald Sun. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
13. "NRL left without women's team out west". Special Broadcasting Service. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
14. Arnold, Rikki-Lee (19 March 2018). "Broncos win spot in NRL women's competition". news.com.au. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
15. Newton, Alicia (27 March 2018). "Geographic location the focus as NRL women's teams announced". NRL.com. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
16. "Knights, Titans and Eels to join NRLW in 2021". NRL. 11 June 2021.
17. "ARLC announce expansion for NRLW, Women's State of Origin". NRL. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
18. Walter, Brad (15 March 2022). "Stars set to earn fulltime deals in expanded NRLW". NRL. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
19. Riccio, David (23 April 2022). "Abdo Responds To Shark Alarm". Daily Telegraph. p. 95.
20. "Raiders aim for 2023 NRLW inclusion". Raiders.com.au. 29 November 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
21. Polkinghorne, David (23 April 2022). "Canberra lodges submission to join NRLW expansion". Canberra Times.
22. "Special delivery: Sharks confirm intent to join NRLW in 2023". NRL. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
23. "Cowboys launch NRLW bid". Cowboys.com.au. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
24. "Cowboys to apply for 2023 NRLW". Cowboys.com.au. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
25. "Cowboys formally submit bid for 2023 NRLW team". NRL. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
26. "Rabbitohs Welcome NRLW Expansion and Investment in Women's Game". South Sydney Rabbitohs. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
27. Newton, Alicia (14 October 2021). "Wests Tigers' NRLW push heats up with Apps, Sergis signings". Wests Tigers. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
28. Becht, Richard (11 June 2021). "Warriors out of 2021 NRLW but will return next year". Warriors.Kiwi. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
29. "Statement on NRLW expansion". NRL. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
30. "NRLW Announcement". NRL. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
31. Newton, Alicia (15 June 2022). "Sharks, Raiders, Cowboys and Wests Tigers to join NRLW in 2023". NRL. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
32. "Rabbitohs statement regarding NRLW licences and expansion". South Sydney Rabbitohs. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
33. "Club Statement: NRLW submission". Penrith Panthers. Panthers Media. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
34. "NRL women get elite contracts". www.news.com.au.
35. "NRL 2018 salary cap: NRL, RLPA agree to new pay deal for players". foxsports.com.au. 3 November 2017.
36. "Elite female rugby league contracts confirmed for 2019". April 2019.
37. Stars set to earn fulltime deals in expanded NRLW by Brad Walter for NRL.com Senior 15 Mar 2022
38. "Panthers and Dragons looking to find form before finals". The Roar. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
39. Newton, Alicia (4 September 2018). "What you need to know: NRL Holden Women's Premiership". NRL.com. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
40. "RLIF welcomes announcement of Downers Rugby League World Cup 9s". nrl.com. RLIF. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
41. "Women's Rugby League". www.facebook.com.
42. "Veronica White Medal".
43. "NRL announces Karyn Murphy medal for women's best". National Rugby League. 3 September 2018.
44. "Nine reveal exciting 2018 rugby league coverage". wwos.nine.com.au.
45. "NRL Holden Women's Premiership teams announced". National Rugby League. 26 March 2018.
46. "NRL Holden Women's Premiership teams announced". media.gm.com. 28 March 2018.
47. "NRL and Rebel announce partnership". National Rugby League. 7 September 2018.
48. "Home". steeden.com.au.

External links

• Official website
• Dragons Lair - NRLW Fan Discussion Forum