The timeline for five remaining NRL clubs to field an NRLW team
There are only five current NRL clubs without an NRLW team. We take a look at the timeline for expansion, facilities and pathways to find out when that gap will be closed.
Financial stability and an even spread of talent are the biggest concerns for the five remaining NRL clubs waiting to be tapped on the shoulder for NRLW expansion.
With a newly broadened 12-team competition in 2025, only South Sydney, Melbourne, Penrith, the Dolphins and Manly remain without a first-grade women’s side.
That’s likely to be the case until at least 2028, when the current a new broadcast deal will come into effect.
Although the NRL has not made public any official plans or timelines for expansion, the five remaining NRL clubs all agree they want slow and steady growth.
“We want to make sure there’s a good spread of talent, the quality among clubs is equal and financially we’re stable as a women’s game,” said Manly CEO Tony Mestrov.
“We can spend money in pathways, and we need time to do that. We’ve got to get the men’s pathways really humming too, that’s a step for us, and then onto the women. We’re definitely keen for the female side, the Northern Beaches has been an incredible nursery for female talent.
“The thing is, you can’t just tick a box on this, you’ve got to be more than competitive, but we’re not ready yet from a financial point of view or from a pathways points of view.
“It’s all about timing.”
The most difficult thing is trying to plan for investment without a timeline.
For Melbourne and the Dolphins, neither club has a dedicated high performance centre or an appropriate facility for elite female athletes. Yet.
In speaking to all five clubs, the general consensus is an official deadline would help them budget and properly invest in their pathways.
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For instance, a 2029 start date would dictate more money directed towards the Lisa Fiaola team from next season with a view those players will progress to the NRLW side within the next few years.
All five clubs want to be competitive.
To get there, we take a look at the state of play for every club still yet to join the NRLW.
Originally published as The timeline for five remaining NRL clubs to field an NRLW team
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