NRLW set for massive shake-up

THE NRLW will expand to 10 teams for season 2023 with North Queensland, Wests Tigers, Canberra Raiders and the Cronulla Sharks to be added to the current six-team competition in a major shake-up of the league.

In March, the NRL announced a time frame for expansion, which included an eight-team competition in 2023, that would grow to 10 teams in 2024.

But only a month after the NRL announced its timeline, ALR Commission chairman Peter V’landys said the game was looking to fast-track the expansion and have four new teams next season.

“We have a blueprint for investing in the women’s game at all levels. We have seen with the quality of the 2021 NRLW Premiership and the tremendous growth in female participation that we have capacity for sustainable growth,” V’landys said.

“The commission have again demonstrated that the women’s game is a strategic priority. The quality of the club submissions was excellent. The commission had always left the door open to expand to a 10-team competition based on the quality of the applicants, and we have seen that come through both in the success of the 2021 premiership and the quality and applications made by clubs.”

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo described it as a watershed moment for the sport.

“Today is another exciting milestone in the growth of women’s premiership,” Abdo said. “The Sharks and the Tigers have strong teams in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership, and the Raiders and the Cowboys already have strong participation bases.

“We will continue to work with all NRL clubs on the plans for further expansion beyond 2023.”