NRLW Expansion plans fast tracked

[King Salvo]

Looks like the plan that all NRL sides have an NRLW side will be fast tracked with up to 4 new NRLW teams admitted to the NRLW Comp in 2023 to make it a 10 team comp and all NRL Clubs to have a NRLW side within 5 years

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys has revealed his ambitious plan for every NRL club to field an NRLW team within five years, in a move that will transform all fixtures into double-headers.

The bold plan will see the men’s and women’s sides play at the same ground each week, and clubs will eventually host triple-headers on game day if V’Landys’ dream of a reserve grade competition is also accomplished.

I hope the NRL will work with the state leagues and NRL clubs so they have the local comps plus the Junior and Senior rep pathways similar to males. i.e equivalent Harold Matthews Cup/SG Ball/Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup - QLD equivalent- Andrew Johns/Laurie Daley Cups for regions - Central Coast Roosters field teams in these in the male comp for an example.

Need to look at the contracts as well - teams able to sign players or some at least to extended contracts instead of the current season by season set up.

Is the expansion too fast - not sure as I know there are players in the NSW Women's Premiership who are capable of NRLW who were not able to jag a contract and those in NRLW squads who played little or no NRLW due to the short nature of the comp - started as 3 comp games for several years plus finals to 5 games this year and finals.

Longer season may mean those players get more game time or game time

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...772be0de4c64a0

[Mickie Lane]

Im not into the NRLW King but I was wondering is there enough quality of women playing the game that they can introduce another 4 teams?
Will it weaken the standard of games in the comp if they expand?
Surely there's not another 120 women ready to make up another 4x30 women sides.

[Thirteen]

I am considering giving up on the mens game and following the women exclusively.

[King Salvo]

Im not into the NRLW King but I was wondering is there enough quality of women playing the game that they can introduce another 4 teams?
Will it weaken the standard of games in the comp if they expand?
Surely there's not another 120 women ready to make up another 4x30 women sides.

Currently they have 24 player squads in the NRLW and there are players who were unable to jag NRLW contracts because of the limited numbers of them plus squad players who hardly played or didn't play this season who would then be targets for new teams.

Also I can see some of the Women in Rugby switching as well

It will also depend on which 4 new Teams will be admitted - I assume New Zealand will re-join / Canberra and North Queensland two others then 1 more out of Sharks/Souths/Wests Tigers/Bulldogs.

Penrith have said they will apply for admittance in 2024 although I am not sure how this will work now as originally 2 new teams were to be admitted in 2023 and 2 in 2024.

V'landys has said 4 will be admitted in 2023

Not sure where Storm/Manly/Redcliffe are up to with their NRLW aspirations.

As I said on another post NRL will need to work with the State Leagues and NRL clubs in developing the local comps and junior and senior rep pathways and development squads similar to the male side of the game. i.e Under 13 and 15 Development Squads/ Regional Reps - Andrrew Johns and Laurie Laurie Daley cups/ Harold Matthews/ SG Ball / Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup and their QLD equivalent.

Currently they have extended Femaile Comp's under NRLW in the Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19's) and NSW Women's Premiership- QLD have similar under 18 and State based comps

[Tommy Smith]

Bad decision (No surprise there).

Quality over quantity is key for the women's comp.

It should be maximum an 8-10 team competition. Never any more.

[PLV012]

V’landy’s apparently wants WNRL on double-header on match day? No problem with that …but why stop there? I would love to see included, the old Reserve grade (or Cup side?) & u21s (or u20s or SGBall even?) also… a day of good senior footy… surely this would enhance the games profile… do you think it’s do-able, or financially feasible? I grew up watching a couple good curtain-raisers before the Main game… loved the build up & atmosphere! Just my opinion.

[King Salvo]

I am considering giving up on the mens game and following the women exclusively.

I wont tell anyone you got on board late and not from the start of NRLW

[King Salvo]

Bad decision (No surprise there).

Quality over quantity is key for the women's comp.

It should be maximum an 8-10 team competition. Never any more.

Be hard to tell NRL clubs they can't have an NRLW side though

[King Salvo]

V’landy’s apparently wants WNRL on double-header on match day? No problem with that …but why stop there? I would love to see included, the old Reserve grade (or Cup side?) & u21s (or u20s or SGBall even?) also… a day of good senior footy… surely this would enhance the games profile… do you think it’s do-able, or financially feasible? I grew up watching a couple good curtain-raisers before the Main game… loved the build up & atmosphere! Just my opinion.

Vlandy's is talking about a reserve grade comp although not sure if he means an NRL reserve grade comp as currently these are state based ones. 3 games on the one day then would be reserve grade/ NRLW and NRL.

Might not be possible for night games say on Thursday and Friday - only two games possibly NRLW and then NRL on these nights

[theGman]

V’landy’s apparently wants WNRL on double-header on match day? No problem with that …but why stop there? I would love to see included, the old Reserve grade (or Cup side?) & u21s (or u20s or SGBall even?) also… a day of good senior footy… surely this would enhance the games profile… do you think it’s do-able, or financially feasible? I grew up watching a couple good curtain-raisers before the Main game… loved the build up & atmosphere! Just my opinion.

Hey Uncle

How are the nephews going especially
De La Salle after facial surgery?

Hopefully Xavier gets to play on after JF commitments.

[Random Rooster]

Im not into the NRLW King but I was wondering is there enough quality of women playing the game that they can introduce another 4 teams?
Will it weaken the standard of games in the comp if they expand?
Surely there's not another 120 women ready to make up another 4x30 women sides.

Is there 120 women of any standard ready to go? I'm not being sarcastic-i'm really asking!

As for the mens comp.....I think there is nowhere near the depth in the NRL to cover the 16 teams as is, without having the Redcliffe Dolphins join the comp. There is talk of their marquee player being Ponga or Reece Walsh-picking the eye out of the weak clubs. There's plenty of players in the bottom 6 teams on the ladder at the moment that aren't of first grade standard

[PLV012]

Hey Uncle

How are the nephews going especially
De La Salle after facial surgery?

Hopefully Xavier gets to play on after JF commitments.

Hey mate

Unfortunately. Salle ruled out of finals. Apparently, there will be more footy for Xavier, after SGBall finals. Cheers.

[rented tracksuit]

Looks like the plan that all NRL sides have an NRLW side will be fast tracked with up to 4 new NRLW teams admitted to the NRLW Comp in 2023 to make it a 10 team comp and all NRL Clubs to have a NRLW side within 5 years

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys has revealed his ambitious plan for every NRL club to field an NRLW team within five years, in a move that will transform all fixtures into double-headers.

The bold plan will see the men’s and women’s sides play at the same ground each week, and clubs will eventually host triple-headers on game day if V’Landys’ dream of a reserve grade competition is also accomplished.

I hope the NRL will work with the state leagues and NRL clubs so they have the local comps plus the Junior and Senior rep pathways similar to males. i.e equivalent Harold Matthews Cup/SG Ball/Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup - QLD equivalent- Andrew Johns/Laurie Daley Cups for regions - Central Coast Roosters field teams in these in the male comp for an example.

Need to look at the contracts as well - teams able to sign players or some at least to extended contracts instead of the current season by season set up.

Is the expansion too fast - not sure as I know there are players in the NSW Women's Premiership who are capable of NRLW who were not able to jag a contract and those in NRLW squads who played little or no NRLW due to the short nature of the comp - started as 3 comp games for several years plus finals to 5 games this year and finals.

Longer season may mean those players get more game time or game time

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...772be0de4c64a0

I am convinced you are a chick.

[King Salvo]

Is there 120 women of any standard ready to go? I'm not being sarcastic-i'm really asking!

As for the mens comp.....I think there is nowhere near the depth in the NRL to cover the 16 teams as is, without having the Redcliffe Dolphins join the comp. There is talk of their marquee player being Ponga or Reece Walsh-picking the eye out of the weak clubs. There's plenty of players in the bottom 6 teams on the ladder at the moment that aren't of first grade standard

NRLW squads are 24 players at this stage.

When there was 4 teams there was only 96 contracts available

With 6 teams there was 144 contacts available an increase of 48 contracts

With the possibility of 10 teams there will 240 contacts available an increase of 96 contracts from the previous 6 team comp

Funding the Female game from grassroots through to junior/senior pathways and NRLW will be paramount as will remunerating the players at NRLW level as one assumes the NRLW is progressing towards full time professional players.

Can't be expanding the comp to 10 or more teams and paying peanuts - current contracts are from 8k minium wage to 28k maximum for marque players - 12 to 14 weeks - pre-season/season/finals - train 3 times a week and work part time or reduced hour jobs during this period

The NRL will need to work with the State Leagues and NRL clubs to develop and maintain local comps and junior and senior rep pathways.

Need to have similar junior and senior reps comps to the Male side of the game. Lower grade players will also need to be remunerated - i.e NSW Womens premiership as i assume teams will all have a reserve grade team at least if not a under 21's also.

Need to have extended contracts as well at least for a certain number of players instead of the season by season contracts

I think there is sufficient players for the proposed 10 team comp in 2023 at least

Not sure though that all NRL Clubs will have a NRLW in 5 years is set in concrete or is a flexible time frame depending on a range of factors - funding / Number of players at NRLW standard


Currently the comps which are pathways for NRLW in NSW are

NSW Women's premiership has 9 teams

• Central Roosters- affiliated with Sydney Roosters
• Newcastle Knights
• Mounties - Not sure if they are affiliated with any NRL side
• Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
• Wests Tigers
• South Sydney Rabbitohs
• North Sydney Bears - Not sure if they are affiliated with the Roosters ?
• St Marys RLFC - Possibly affiliated with Penrith
• Wenthworthville Magpies - Possibly Affiliated with Parramatta

Tarsha Gale Cup ( Under 19's )- 12 Teams

• Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy
• Newcastle Knights
• Penrith Panthers
• Parramatta Eels
• Canberra Raiders
• North Sydney Bears
• Illawarra Steelers
• St George Dragons
• Wests Tigers
• Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
• South Sydney Rabbitohs
• Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs

QLD equivalent comps - Women's state comp and under 18's

[King Salvo]

I am convinced you are a chick.

Why because I support the NRLW and have done so since it started - NRLW is here to stay so get used to it.

I support all the clubs teams from Junior reps through to NRLW and NRL- Central Coast Roosters /Sydney Roosters and Norths in NSW Cup ones- Both Female and Male

Good to see the support that Uncle Nick , Robbo and the Club showed for the NRLW side - Robbo saying how hard they work - old school in training 3 times a week and holding down part time or reduced hours jobs as well during this period - 14 weeks - pre-season/season/finals.