Almanac Rugby League: NRLW to expand in 2021
Womens’ rugby league is the fasting growing area of the code after the success of the NRLW competition over the past three years and the change of the interstate competition to mirror the mens’ State of Origin format.
Three foundation teams, the Brisbane Broncos, Sydney Roosters and St George-Illawarra Dragons, will suit up again. The other inaugural member, the New Zealand Warriors, will sit out this year’s competition given the vagaries of the Covid situation and player location complications. The Kiwis have every intention to rejoin the competition in 2022.
Now the NRL has announced that it will expand the competition with the inclusion of three new teams in 2021 – the Newcastle Knights, Paramatta Eels and Gold Coast Titans. There is the hope that 2022 will see the return of the Warriors and, possibly, the inclusion of one other team.
The new season will expand from four to seven weeks with five preliminary rounds in which the teams play each other once before the top four teams progress to the semi-finals. The winners of those two matches will play off in the Grand Final which will be played on the same day as the NRL Grand Final. The total number of games in the season increases from seven to eighteen.
The new season will commence to coincide with NRL Round 23 in mid-August.
Read more from the NRL here.
This year’s women’s State of Origin clash will take place at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Friday 25 June.
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About Ian Hauser
A relaxed, Noosa-based retiree with a (very) modest sporting CV. A loyal Queenslander, especially when it comes to cricket and rugby league. Enjoys travel, coffee and cake, reading, and has been known to appreciate a glass or three of wine. One of Footy Almanac's online editors who enjoys the occasional editing opportunity to assist aspiring writers.
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