The NRL has taken its next leap into women’s football, with Canterbury and the Warriors returning to join a 12-team NRLW competition by 2025.
CEO Andrew Abdo confirmed the changes on Thursday.
The addition of new teams means the NRLW competition will be extended to an 11-week regular season from next year.
The final will remain a four-team competition for two weeks.
The NRLW will begin again after State of Origin, with the grand final continuing to be played alongside the men’s decider over the October long weekend.
The two-team expansion follows an agreement reached between the NRL and the players’ union in early 2022, and continues a rapid expansion of the competition.
Only four teams played in the 2020 NRLW, before it grew to six teams in 2022 and 10 in 2023.
Officials are confident that the level of competition can be maintained amid its rapid growth.
“Women’s football has reached another level and the level of skill and quality of play is extraordinary,” said ARL Commission President Peter V’landys.
“This is evidenced by the popularity of the NRLW contest.
“Last year, over a million viewers tuned in to watch the NRLW grand final and we look forward to even bigger and better competition in 2025.
“Investments in participation and pathways will ensure the new teams are competitive.”
By the time the Bulldogs and Warriors come in next year, the Dolphins, Manly, South Sydney, Penrith and Melbourne will be the only NRL teams without women’s teams.
The Warriors’ return to competition comes after they last appeared in 2020 but withdrew due to travel complications caused by COVID-19.
Its return has been encouraged for a long time, especially given the footprint the club offers to the sport in New Zealand.
Canterbury have made no secret of their long-standing desire to have a team and have long entered women’s teams in lower level and development competitions.
The expansion is likely to be the last until at least 2028, under the current collective bargaining agreement.
However, that schedule could change if an agreement is reached between the NRL and the Rugby League Players’ Association.
AAP
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