NRL Women's Premiership

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]

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] but 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 Canberra, Cronulla, North Queensland and Wests.[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]

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]

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

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.

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.

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

R	Player	Debut	S	M	T	G	FG	P	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

• 3 - Brisbane Broncos (2018 to 2020)

• 4 - Brisbane Broncos (2018 to 2021)

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

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

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

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

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]

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.