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NRL-Womens: Record Viewership and Rapid Expansion Define Rugby League’s Professional Ascent By Our Sports Correspondent
Sydney, Australia The National Rugby League Women’s Premiership (NRLW) has concluded its latest season amidst a flurry of record-breaking commercial success and profound structural expansion, solidifying its position as one of the fastest-growing professional women’s sports leagues globally. The 2025 season, which saw the Brisbane Broncos claim their fourth premiership title in a fierce Grand Final against the Sydney Roosters, was marked by unprecedented fan engagement and significant investment in player pathways, underscoring a fundamental shift towards full-time professionalism. The climax of the season provided irrefutable evidence of the league's burgeoning public profile. The 2025 Grand Final, contested at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, attracted an official attendance of 46,288 spectators—a new record for the women’s competition when played as a double-header alongside the men’s fixture. Furthermore, the match drew a domestic television audience of 1. 03 million viewers on the Nine Network, marking a 36% increase year-on-year, according to official figures released by the NRL. This commercial uplift signals robust public appetite and validates the league’s accelerated expansion strategy. The Trajectory of Expansion Since its inception in 2018 with just four teams, the NRLW has embarked on an aggressive yet managed growth plan. The 2025 season marked a major milestone, expanding the competition to 12 clubs with the readmission of the New Zealand Warriors after a four-season hiatus and the debut of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
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This expansion phase, which saw four new clubs join in 2023, and two more in 2025, has introduced a greater depth of talent and geographic reach. NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo has described the current trajectory as a springboard for the league’s future ambitions. Speaking at the launch of the 2025 season, Mr Abdo stated: "We're seeing now is the quality of football means fans are tuning into watch in my view the best women's competition in the world of any sport. " He reaffirmed the code’s long-term vision, which aims for gender parity across the clubs. "We are all aligned around the vision of ultimately having each team housing both a men's and women's team," Abdo said, indicating that future expansion is closely tied to clubs' investment in their junior pathways and infrastructure, ensuring the growth is sustainable and based on developed talent. Contract Stability and Professional Hurdles The structural growth is mirrored by increasing stability within player contracts. The latest contracting period has seen a flurry of multi-year deals, indicating a move away from traditional one-year agreements. Key signings, such as Wests Tigers forward Kezie Apps extending her commitment until 2029 and North Queensland Cowboys trio Jakiya Whitfeld, Emma Manzelmann, and Lily Peacock until 2028, demonstrate players and clubs are planning for careers defined by the elite women’s game. The movement of high-profile players, including Grand Final hero Mele Hufanga departing the Broncos for a three-year deal with the Warriors, highlights the market maturity and competitive balance being injected into the 12-team competition.
However, the professional journey remains incomplete. Despite the enhanced profile and rising minimum wage (set at $41,800 for the 2025 season), the competition remains largely semi-professional. Many players continue to juggle rigorous training schedules and matches with full-time or part-time employment outside of rugby league, a reality that impacts elite performance and recovery. An analyst covering the game recently highlighted this disparity, noting that while elite players on top contracts enjoy recovery protocols almost identical to their male counterparts, many others are "going to work. Some are on their feet all day in physical jobs and others have emotionally draining occupations. " The consensus among commentators is that universal full-time professionalism is the necessary next step to maintain the integrity and quality of the rapidly expanding league. Impact on Pathways and Global Rugby League The success of the NRLW has had a significant flow-on effect, particularly in the development of female participants. Rugby league authorities are reportedly on track to surpass 50,000 registered female participants in club competitions across Australia, creating a robust talent pipeline that supports the expansion of the elite tier. Club officials are leveraging this grassroots growth for long-term squad building.
John Strange, the Head Coach of the Sydney Roosters NRLW side, emphasised the importance of player commitment following the re-signing of star centre Olivia Kernick. “Her passion for the jersey, professionalism, and consistency set the standard. She’s someone you can build a team around, and we’re thrilled to have her with us,” Strange commented, pointing to the value of long-term stability in a rapidly evolving code. Furthermore, the NRLW’s profile is having an international impact, with players like the Warriors' Tyra Wetere and Felila Kia recently undertaking offseason stints in the French domestic competition, a move praised by Warriors coach Ronald Griffiths for offering more development opportunities. This cultural and professional exchange underscores the league's growing influence across the global rugby league ecosystem. Outlook The conclusion of the 2025 NRLW season has marked a definitive shift from a developmental league to a significant professional entity. With record crowds and viewership, the league’s economic sustainability appears strong, driving further investment in talent pathways. The immediate challenge for the NRL is not merely to sustain the 12-team structure, but to bridge the gap to full-time professionalism for all athletes, ensuring that the league's high standards of competition are maintained through the coming years of continued growth. The next phase will be defined by the negotiation and implementation of a genuinely professional structure that can accommodate the elite demands of a competition now proven to be a major feature on the Australian sporting calendar.
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