Record-breaking season set to fuel further NRLW growth

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys has outlined the organisation's plan to expand the NRLW competition on the back of record participation and viewership numbers in 2024. 

The competition will grow to 12 teams this season with the addition of the Bulldogs and Warriors and V'landys said there are no plans to stop there. 

Viewership cracked eight million people throughout last year's NRLW competition, with a further three million people tuning in to three Women's State of Origin clashes in figures revealed in the ARLC's Annual Report on Friday. 

While the ARLC is cautious to avoid expanding the competition too quickly, the Commission is eager to see every NRL club having both a men's and women's team in the near future.

"We're very keen to expand the game," V'landys said. "We have to consult with our two state authorities to make sure there are sufficient players coming through the pathways and we don't rush it. 

"It's always been our plan to go to 18 teams, to have as many women's teams as men's teams and we think we can do it sooner rather than later. There's some analysis to be done and naturally we have to work with the two state authorities, we don't want to destroy their competitions but there's another sport I think called union or something. They've got a lot of players so maybe we can source some of them from there." 

V'landys was thrilled to announce record viewing and participation numbers for the women's game at the ARLC's Annual General Meeting on Friday. 

Female registered participants surged by 14% in 2024, rising to nearly 45,000 people and cracking 40,000 for the first time. 

Total Women's State of Origin ratings grew by 103% year on year, reaching 3.2 million viewers across the three-game series.

The average viewership for an NRLW regular season match was 143,000 people, dwarfing the 55,000 average viewership for an AFLW game. 

The disparity was even starker for the post-season, with an average 521,000 people watching each NRLW finals match, compared to 174,000 per AFLW finals game. 

The numbers reflect the exponential growth of women's rugby league since the NRLW competition was established with four teams in 2018 and point to a bright future.

The future makeup of the competition will likely be a factor in discussions over the next broadcast deal, set to start in 2028, with the ARLC keen to capitalise on the growing increase and commercial opportunities attached to the NRLW.

"The area we're very proud of is our women's game that has just gone to another level," V'landys said. "They are outstanding, their skill, their ability and their entertainment factor is amazing. 

"To get there in such a small period of time is exceptional and that's proven because last year we had a record eight million viewers for the women. They had three million viewers across the State of Origin and on the Thursday night the women beat the AFL game on TV. All credit to them, they are really doing well."

Women's rugby league will break new ground next week when the Jillaroos play England in a historic Test in Las Vegas. 

The match will form part of the NRL's season opener at Allegiant Stadium, with the US viewed as fertile ground for growth of international women's rugby league. 

The players have spoken about their desire to attract new fans and participants in America and many rugby sevens players have already expressed an interest in travelling to Australia to play in the NRLW. 

V'landys expects the US spectators will be blown away by the physicality and skills on display and is confident the sport will capitalise on a desire for women's contact sport in America.