Huge step for women

Warriors’ executive chairman Jim Doyle says having a side in the inaugural NRL women’s competition is a massive step for the game in this country.

The NRL announced yesterday it had granted licences to the Warriors, Brisbane, St George Illawarra and the Sydney Roosters for its inaugural women’s competition.

“The formation of a women’s premiership is one of the most exciting developments the game has seen,” said NRL boss Todd Greenberg.

The competition will take place later this year. Doyle says it is a significant launching pad.

“With the success the Kiwi Ferns have had, it’s logical to have one of the teams in New Zealand while it’s also tremendous for our brand to be able to embrace the community in the fullest sense,” he said.

The Warriors will now have four teams in the NRL and chief executive Cameron George will be talking to the NZRL and Auckland Rugby about working together.

Greenberg said a decision was made to run the competition with four teams, rather than six, to ensure the first year of competition was of the highest quality, while balancing player workload.

“We think we’ve got the balance right for our first year and I would expect more NRL clubs to join the competition in the years ahead,” he said.

NRL senior manager of the women’s elite programme, Tiffany Slater, says the four NRL clubs would now embark on a process to contract players.