NRL Women's Premiership

Telstra Women's Premiership (NRLW)
Current season or competition:
2024 NRL Women's season
SportRugby league
Instituted6 December 2017
Inaugural season2018
CEOAndrew Abdo
Number of teams10
Country Australia (10 teams) (12 from 2025)
Premiers Newcastle Knights (2nd title) (2023)
Most titles Brisbane Broncos (3 titles)
WebsiteNRL.com
Broadcast partnerAustralia
Broadcast
Nine Network
Fox League
Streaming
9Now
Kayo Sports
Overseas
Broadcast
International broadcasters
Streaming
Watch NRL
Related competitionNational 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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]

The Brisbane Broncos were the most dominant team in the opening three seasons winning all three minor premierships and premierships.

2021–present: Competition expansion

[edit]

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]

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]

The 2023 NRLW season ran for 11 weeks with 9 rounds, Semi-finals and a Grand Final. The Newcastle Knights won their second premiership and the first of the expanded 10 team competition.

On 28 March 2024, the NRL announced that the competition would expand by two teams in the 2025 season, with the addition of Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the return of the New Zealand Warriors.[34]

Clubs

[edit]

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

The competition's ten teams are based across two states of Australia.

Current clubs

[edit]
Club City/Cities Home Venue(s) (capacity) Est. Joined Premierships
Total Last
Brisbane Broncos Queensland Brisbane (Milton) Suncorp Stadium (52,500) 1988 2018 3 2020
Canberra Raiders Australian Capital Territory Canberra (Bruce) GIO Stadium (25,011) 1982 2023 0
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks New South Wales Sydney (Cronulla) PointsBet Stadium 1967 2023 0
Gold Coast Titans Queensland Gold Coast (Robina) Cbus Super Stadium (27,400) 2007 2021 0
Newcastle Knights New South Wales Newcastle (New Lambton) McDonald Jones Stadium (33,000) 1988 2021 2 2023
North Queensland Cowboys Queensland Townsville (Real Estate) Queensland Country Bank Stadium 1995 2023 0
Parramatta Eels New South Wales Sydney (Parramatta) CommBank Stadium (30,000) 1947 2021 0
St. George Illawarra Dragons New South Wales Sydney (St. George),
New South Wales Wollongong (City Centre)
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium (20,500),
WIN Stadium (23,000)
1998 2018 0
Sydney Roosters New South Wales Sydney (Eastern Suburbs) Allianz Stadium (42,500) 1908 2018 1 2021
Wests Tigers New South Wales Sydney (Campbelltown),
New South Wales Sydney (Leichhardt)
Campbelltown Stadium (17,500),
CommBank Stadium (30,000)
2000 2023 0

Club in recess

[edit]
Club City/Town Est. Joined Recess Premierships
Entered Exited Total Most recent
New Zealand Warriors New Zealand Auckland 1995 2018 2020 2025[34] 0

On 1 July 2024, the New Zealand Warriors announced the appointment of Ronald Griffiths as their NRLW coach for their return to the competition in 2025. Griffiths has been appointed on a three-year deal.[35]

Future Club

[edit]
Club City/Town Est. Joining
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs New South Wales Sydney (Bankstown) 1935 2025[34]

On 30 May 2024, the Bulldogs announced the appointment of Blake Cavallaro as their NRLW coach for their entry into the competition in 2025.[36] On 19 July 2024 the Bulldogs announced their first two players signings for the 2025 NRLW season, Tayla Preston and Ashleigh Quinlan, with both players signing two-year deals.[37][38]

Players

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

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

[edit]

NRL Women's Premiership hands contracts to 40 elite women players.[39][40][41]

The top level salary in 2022 is $60,000 (excluding marquee deals). Representative Origin payments are $6,000 per game.[42]

Season structure

[edit]

Pre-season

[edit]

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

Premiership season

[edit]

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.[43]

The rules and regulations are mostly the same as in the men's game, with a few exceptions:[44]

  • 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

[edit]

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.[45] This would be around one month after the Women's Grand Final and preseason tournament Auckland Nines in previous years was replaced.

Seasons

[edit]
Season Teams Premiers Runners-up Minor Premiers Wooden Spoon
NRL Women's Premiership
2018 4 Brisbane Broncos (1) 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 (1) St George Illawarra Dragons (2) Brisbane Broncos (4) Newcastle Knights
2022 6 Newcastle Knights (1) Parramatta Eels (1) Sydney Roosters (1) Gold Coast Titans (1)
2023 10 Newcastle Knights (2) Gold Coast Titans (1) Newcastle Knights (1) Parramatta Eels (1)

* 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

[edit]
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
2023 Newcastle Knights 24–18 Gold Coast Titans Belinda Sharpe Accor Stadium
Sydney
1 October 2023 40,649

Awards

[edit]

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 –[46]
  • Veronica White Medal –[47]
  • Karyn Murphy Medal – the best player on the ground in the Grand Final, not voted by a committee of media members[48]
Season Player of the Year Rookie Try Scorer Veronica White Karyn Murphy Medal
Dally M Medal RLPA
Players' Champion
Community Grand Final
Player of the Match
2018 Brittany Breayley-Nati NA Taleena Simon Kimiora Breayley-Nati
2019 Jessica Sergis Jessica Sergis Jessica Sergis Honey Hireme Annette Brander
2020 Ali Brigginshaw Hannah Southwell Kennedy Cherrington Tamika Upton Georgia Hale Amber Hall
2021 Millie Boyle
Emma Tonegato
Emma Tonegato Destiny Brill Madison Bartlett Karina Brown Sarah Togatuki
2022 Raecene McGregor Raecene McGregor Jesse Southwell Teagan Berry
Jayme Fressard
Tamika Upton
Tamika Upton
2023 Tamika Upton Teagan Berry Annessa Biddle Teagan Berry Tahlulah Tillett Tamika Upton

Records

[edit]

Tables last updated 27 July 2024 (after Game 3 of Round 1 of the 2024 Season).

Most Appearances

[edit]

The following players have made 20 or more appearances in NRLW matches.

R Player Debut Seasons Matches 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
1 Ali Brigginshaw 2018 7 34 4 4 4 6 5 10 1
2 Chelsea Lenarduzzi 2018 7 33 4 3 4 6 5 10 1
2 Isabelle Kelly 2018 7 33 4 3 2 7 6 10 1
2 Keeley Davis 2018 7 33 3 4 3 7 6 9 1
2 Stephanie Hancock 2018 6 33 4 4 3 6 5 11
2 Zahara Temara 2018 6 33 4 3 4 7 6 9
7 Raecene McGregor 2018 6 32 3 4 4 7 5 9
8 Simaima Taufa 2018 6 31 4 2 4 5 7 9
9 Brittany Breayley-Nati 2018 5 30 4 4 6 5 11
9 Georgia Hale 2018 6 30 3 3 3 5 5 11
9 Karina Brown 2018 6 30 4 3 3 6 5 9
9 Nita Maynard 2018 7 30 4 3 4 4 3 11 1
9 Shaylee Bent 2019 5 30 4 2 7 6 11
9 Tarryn Aiken 2019 6 30 4 4 6 5 10 1
9 Yasmin Clydsdale 2020 5 30 4 7 7 11 1
16 Jessica Sergis 2018 7 29 3 4 3 6 6 6 1
16 Millie Elliott 2019 6 29 4 4 5 7 8 1
18 Holli Wheeler 2018 6 28 3 4 7 6 7 1
18 Kirra Dibb 2019 6 28 3 3 5 7 9 1
18 Quincy Dodd 2019 6 28 1 4 7 6 9 1
18 Tallisha Harden 2018 7 28 1 3 4 6 4 9 1
18 Tamika Upton 2019 6 28 3 4 4 5 11 1
18 Vanessa Foliaki 2018 6 28 4 3 4 7 9 1
24 Jessika Elliston 2019 5 27 1 4 6 5 11
24 Jocelyn Kelleher 2020 5 27 3 7 6 10 1
26 Hannah Southwell 2018 7 26 3 3 3 7 1 8 1
26 Kezie Apps 2018 6 26 3 4 2 5 5 7
26 Lauren Brown 2020 4 26 4 6 5 11
26 Olivia Higgins 2021 4 26 7 7 11 1
26 Rikeya Horne 2018 6 26 3 3 1 4 7 8
26 Sarah Togatuki 2018 5 26 3 4 7 5 7
26 Tayla Predebon 2021 4 26 7 7 11 1
26 Tazmin Rapana 2018 6 26 4 4 3 4 10 1
26 Tiana Penitani 2019 6 26 4 2 5 5 9 1
35 Ellie Johnston 2020 5 25 3 5 7 9 1
35 Julia Robinson 2018 7 25 4 3 4 2 5 6 1
35 Madison Bartlett 2019 5 25 2 3 6 5 9
38 Evania Pelite 2023 4 24 3 5 5 11
38 Olivia Kernick 2021 4 24 7 6 10 1
38 Romy Teitzel 2023 5 24 1 5 7 10 1
38 Shanice Parker 2019 5 24 1 4 7 11 1
38 Shenae Ciesiolka 2020 4 24 3 6 5 10
43 Brydie Parker 2018 4 23 2 4 7 10
43 Emma Tonegato 2021 4 23 7 6 9 1
43 Jaime Chapman 2020 4 23 3 6 5 9
43 Keilee Joseph 2021 4 23 6 6 10 1
43 Teagan Berry 2020 4 23 1 7 6 9
48 Caitlan Johnston-Green 2019 5 22 3 1 7 10 1
48 Corban Baxter 2019 4 22 3 4 5 10
48 Emma Manzelmann 2021 4 22 5 7 9 1
48 Kennedy Cherrington 2020 5 22 4 5 7 5 1
48 Lavinia Gould 2018 7 22 4 4 2 4 2 5 1
48 Shannon Mato 2020 4 22 4 2 5 11
54 Destiny Brill 2021 3 21 6 6 9
54 Jayme Fressard 2020 5 21 3 4 5 8 1
54 Leianne Tufuga 2021 3 21 7 5 9
57 Christian Pio 2021 3 20 4 7 9
57 Filomina Hanisi 2020 4 20 4 5 7 4
57 Talei Holmes 2020 5 20 3 4 3 9 1
57 Tiana Raftstrand-Smith 2021 4 20 6 5 8 1

Most Individual Points

[edit]

The following players have scored 20 or more points in NRLW matches.

R Player Debut S M T G FG P 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
1 Zahara Temara 2018 6 33 3 64 2 142 3g 0 1t 9g 10g 1fg 1t 21g 1t 21g 1fg
2 Ali Brigginshaw 2018 7 34 12 35 0 118 2t 1t 1t 1t 2t 3g 5t 32g 0
3 Kirra Dibb 2019 6 28 3 45 1 103 4g 1t 4g 4g 1t 15g 1t 18g 1fg 0
4 Jesse Southwell 2022 3 19 5 41 0 102 2t 6g 3t 33g 2g
5 Jocelyn Kelleher 2020 5 27 6 33 0 90 0 1t 2t 2t 32g 1t 1g
5 Tayla Preston 2022 3 16 2 41 0 90 1t 15g 1t 25g 1g
7 Teagan Berry 2020 4 23 21 1 0 86 1t 1g 4t 5t 11t
8 Lauren Brown 2020 4 26 2 37 2 84 1t 19g 7g 1t 11g 2fg
9 Tamika Upton 2019 6 28 19 0 0 76 1t 5t 1t 5t 7t 0
10 Rachael Pearson 2021 4 19 1 35 1 75 1t 12g 8g 1fg 12g 3g
11 Madison Bartlett 2019 5 25 18 0 0 72 1t 1t 6t 3t 7t
12 Jessica Sergis 2018 7 29 16 0 0 64 1t 3t 1t 1t 2t 7t 1t
12 Jaime Chapman 2020 4 23 16 0 0 64 0 3t 4t 9t
14 Julia Robinson 2018 7 25 15 0 0 60 2t 1t 2t 1t 3t 5t 1t
15 Isabelle Kelly 2018 7 33 14 0 0 56 2t 0 0 4t 3t 5t 0
16 Meg Ward 2018 3 10 3 18 0 48 1t 1t 5g 1t 13g
16 Jayme Fressard 2020 5 21 12 0 0 48 0 1t 5t 6t 0
16 Shenae Ciesiolka 2020 4 24 12 0 0 48 0 4t 3t 5t
19 Tarryn Aiken 2019 6 30 11 1 0 46 0 1t 2t 3t 1g 5t 0
20 Chelsea Baker 2018 2 7 2 18 0 44 2t 15g 3g
22 Tiana Penitani 2019 6 26 10 0 0 40 2t 1t 2t 2t 2t 1t
21 Mele Hufanga 2023 2 11 10 0 0 40 10t 0
23 Chelsea Lenarduzzi 2018 7 33 9 0 0 36 0 1t 2t 1t 1t 3t 1t
23 Shakiah Tungai 2018 5 19 7 4 0 36 1t 3g 2t 0 0 4t 1g
23 Simaima Taufa 2018 6 31 9 0 0 36 0 2t 0 1t 4t 2t
23 Corban Baxter 2019 4 22 9 0 0 36 0 2t 0 7t
23 Evania Pelite 2020 4 24 9 0 0 36 3t 1t 0 5t
23 Yasmin Clydsdale 2020 5 30 9 0 0 36 2t 1t 2t 4t 0
23 Leianne Tufuga 2021 3 21 9 0 0 36 2t 2t 5t
23 Sheridan Gallagher 2023 2 12 7 4 0 36 7t 4g 0
31 Maddie Studdon 2018 5 14 1 15 1 35 0 8g 0 1t 7g 1fg 0
32 Brydie Parker 2018 4 23 8 0 0 32 1t 0 3t 4t
32 Raecene McGregor 2018 6 32 1 14 0 32 0 1t 0 0 0 14g
32 Rikeya Horne 2018 6 26 8 0 0 32 1t 0 0 0 3t 4t
32 Stephanie Hancock 2018 6 33 8 0 0 32 0 0 0 4t 4t 0
32 Quincy Dodd 2019 6 28 8 0 0 32 0 3t 1t 1t 3t 0
32 Ellie Johnston 2020 5 25 8 0 0 32 0 1t 1t 6t 0
32 Emma Tonegato 2021 4 23 8 0 0 32 4t 1t 3t 0
32 Olivia Higgins 2021 4 26 8 0 0 32 1t 2t 4t 1t
40 Pauline Piliae-Rasabale 2023 1 9 0 15 0 30 15g
41 Kezie Apps 2018 6 26 7 0 0 28 0 1t 0 0 1t 5t
41 Millie Elliott 2019 6 29 7 0 0 28 0 1t 3t 1t 2t 0
41 Destiny Brill 2021 3 21 7 0 0 28 1t 3t 3t
41 Jasmine Peters 2021 4 18 7 0 0 28 4t 0 3t 0
41 Lauren Dam 2021 3 13 7 0 0 28 0 7t 0
41 Olivia Kernick 2021 4 24 7 0 0 28 3t 3t 1t 0
41 Abigail Roache 2023 2 12 7 0 0 28 6t 1t
48 Zara Canfield 2023 3 18 3 7 0 26 2g 1t 2t 5g
49 Sarah Togatuki 2018 5 26 6 0 0 24 0 0 3t 1t 2t
49 Tazmin Rapana 2018 6 26 6 0 0 24 1t 0 0 1t 4t 0
49 Kiana Takairangi 2019 3 13 6 0 0 24 0 4t 2t
49 Shanice Parker 2019 5 24 6 0 0 24 0 0 0 6t 0
49 Shaniah Power 2020 4 18 6 0 0 24 2t 1t 3t 0
49 Emily Bass 2021 3 11 6 0 0 24 4t 0 2t
49 Otesa Pule 2022 3 17 6 0 0 24 1t 5t 0
56 Kimiora Breayley-Nati 2018 4 16 3 4 0 20 3t 0 4g 0
56 Taleena Simon 2018 2 5 5 0 0 20 4t 1t
56 Bobbi Law 2019 5 18 5 0 0 20 1t 1t 0 1t 2t
56 Jessika Elliston 2019 5 27 5 0 0 20 0 0 1t 1t 3t
56 Brianna Clark 2020 5 19 1 8 0 20 0 7g 1g 1t 0
56 Romy Teitzel 2020 5 24 5 0 0 20 0 2t 3t 0 0
56 Emma Manzelmann 2021 4 22 5 0 0 20 0 2t 3t 0
56 Tayla Predebon 2021 4 26 5 0 0 20 0 2t 3t 0
56 Gayle Broughton 2022 2 15 5 0 0 20 1t 4t
56 Jasmin Strange 2022 3 13 5 0 0 20 1t 4t 0
56 Zali Fay 2022 3 16 5 0 0 20 2t 2t 1t
56 Georgia Ravics 2023 2 6 5 0 0 20 5t 0
56 Kimberley Hunt 2023 1 7 5 0 0 20 5t
56 Margot Vella 2023 1 8 5 0 0 20 5t
56 Tyla King 2023 1 9 3 4 0 20 3t 4g

Most Points in each season

[edit]
Season Player Club M T G FG Points
2018 Chelsea Baker Broncos 4 2 15 0 38
2019 Maddie Studdon Dragons 4 0 8 0 16
2020 Meg Ward Broncos 4 1 13 0 30
2021 Lauren Brown Broncos 6 0 19 0 38
2022 Zahara Temara Roosters 6 1 21 0 46
2023 Ali Brigginshaw Broncos 10 5 32 0 84
Note:
  • The maximum number of matches including finals has increased over time from 4 in the 2018, 2019 and 2020 seasons, 7 in 2021 and 2022, and 11 from 2023.
  • In the five previous seasons, 2018 to 2022, the player with the most points in each season has also been the player with the most goals in each season.
  • Jesse Southwell (Knights) with 78 points from 3 tries and 33 goals (from 11 games) finished in second place as point-scorer for the 2023 season, and also in first place as the leading goal scorer in 2023.

Most Tries in each season

[edit]
Season Player Club Matches Tries
2018 Taleena Simon Roosters 4 4
2019 Jessica Sergis Dragons 4 3
2020 Tamika Upton Broncos 4 5
2021 Madison Bartlett