Women's rugby league in Australia is growing quickly. The NRLW is the main competition. It brings together elite players, familiar club brands, finals football and representative pathways. Find out more about it here.
Key Takeaways
- NRLW stands for National Rugby League Women’s Premiership.
- The NRLW is the elite women’s rugby league club competition connected to the NRL ecosystem.
- The first NRLW season began in 2018 with four clubs.
- The competition has expanded rapidly, reaching 12 teams by 2025.
- NRLW and NRL are the same sport, with 13 players on the field and the same basic position structure.
- The NRLW regular season leads into finals, where the premiership is decided.
- NRLW players can also push towards representative rugby league, including State of Origin and the Australian Jillaroos.
- Beginners can follow the competition more easily by learning terms such as try, conversion, set, ruck, ladder and finals.
What Does NRLW Stand For?
NRLW stands for National Rugby League Women's Premiership. This is the elite women's rugby league, with the competition connected to the wider NRL system in Australia.⁶ The NRLW is the main club competition, and it's where the best female rugby league players compete. ⁶
It's more than just the women's NRL or women's national rugby league. However, the official name does include NRL to add brand recognition. For new fans, it's a great way to start following women's rugby league in Australia, with broadcast coverage in a single national competition.
A Brief History of the NRLW
NRLW history is much shorter than NRL history, but women's rugby history isn't. However, with this article focusing on the NRLW, let's see how it came to be. After all, the NRLW gave elite women's players a clear national club competition connected to pathways and the Australian Jillaroos.⁸ Since its foundation in 2017, the competition has grown quickly, going from four teams to three times the size with more clubs, more rounds, and more visibility.¹
2017
NRL women's program announced
The NRL announced a wider women's rugby league program for 2018, including a Women's Premiership, State of Origin, national pathway events and Jillaroos international matches.⁸
2018
First NRLW season begins
The first NRLW season began with four clubs: Brisbane Broncos, Sydney Roosters, St George Illawarra Dragons and New Zealand Warriors.⁴
2022
NRLW expands to six teams
The NRLW expanded to six teams with Gold Coast Titans, Newcastle Knights and Parramatta Eels joining the competition.⁵
2023
NRLW grows to 10 teams
The competition grew again when Canberra Raiders, Cronulla Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys and Wests Tigers joined the NRLW.²
2025
NRLW reaches 12 teams
The competition expanded to 12 teams, with the Bulldogs joining and the Warriors returning to the NRLW.¹
2026
NRLW moves into an 11-round season
The 2026 NRLW season was scheduled as an 11-round competition, showing how far the premiership had grown since its four-team launch.⁹
How Does the NRLW Work?
The NRLW rules are pretty much the same as a standard rugby league premiership. Clubs play a regular season, with the best-performing teams advancing to the finals. During the regular season, teams compete for points on the ladder, the competition table that ranks clubs by their results. The goal is to finish high enough to qualify for the finals, staying in contention for the premiership.
At the end of the regular season, the top teams go into the final series. These matches continue towards the grand final, eliminating teams along the way. The winner of the grand final is the NRLW premiers for that season.
The exact number of rounds, teams, and finals has changed over the years. These numbers aren't set in stone, with expansion occurring over the years, so wrap your head around the format first before attaching yourself to any notions of how many rounds there are. For the 2026 NRLW season, it's 11 rounds.
Is the NRLW the Same Sport as the NRL?
The NRLW and the NRL are both rugby league competitions. The aim, field layout, scoring system and match structure are built around the same sport. The NRLW doesn't play a modified code or separate version of rugby; it's an elite women's rugby league premiership within the wider NRL ecosystem.⁶
Like in the NRL, NRLW teams use 13 players, with the same broad position structure across backs, halves and forwards.³ The objective is the same, too. Players have to move the ball downfield, manage possession, defend sets and score more points than the opposition.
The differences between the NRL and NRLW are at the competition level. The NRL and NRLW have different numbers of teams, so their seasons and rounds differ. Other than that, they're the same.
NRLW Teams: Which Clubs Play in the Competition?
NRLW teams are linked to clubs that many fans will already know. From the four teams at launch to the 12-team premiership, new clubs are joining. As NRLW continues develop, you should expect to see more teams being added.
One of the original NRLW clubs and one of the best-known rugby league brands in Queensland.
The Raiders give the competition representation from the ACT and surrounding rugby league regions.
The Bulldogs joined as part of the NRLW's expansion to 12 teams.
The Sharks are one of the Sydney-based clubs in the NRLW.
The Titans represent the Gold Coast and South East Queensland rugby league community.
The Knights are based in Newcastle, one of Australia's strongest rugby league regions.
The Warriors give the NRLW a New Zealand club presence.
The Cowboys represent North Queensland in the women's premiership.
The Eels are one of the western Sydney clubs in the NRLW.
The Dragons were part of the first NRLW season in 2018.
The Roosters are another original NRLW club and one of the competition's major Sydney teams.
The Tigers joined during the NRLW's 2023 expansion.
Why Has the NRLW Grown So Quickly?
The NRLW arrived as women's sport in Australia was becoming more visible. With better support, it's easier than ever for fans to follow, which could lead to more clubs, stronger pathways, improved salaries, and better coverage. This helped take the competition from a small elite premiership into a national rugby league competition with a clearer place in the sporting calendar.¹
teams competing in the competition.
The growth of the competition is important because it ensures that young players have something to aim for. Fans can follow players through club seasons, finals campaigns and premiership races. Eyes on the women's game via an elite platform adds to the landscape that already features grassroots rugby league, State of Origin and international rugby league.
The NRLW is more than a club competition because it sits inside a wider women’s rugby league pathway. Strong performances in the NRLW can help players push towards representative rugby league, including State of Origin, international rugby league and the Australian Jillaroos. The Jillaroos are Australia’s national women’s rugby league team, so they represent one of the highest goals for elite players coming through the women’s game.⁷
NRLW vs NRL: Key Similarities and Differences
Start with the similarities. If you already know the NRL, you'll have less to learn. Both competitions are rugby league, with 13 players and the same position structure.³ Of course, the NRL has a much longer history. The NRLW is newer, but it's grown quickly since 2018.²
| Area | NRLW | NRL |
|---|---|---|
| Sport | Rugby league | Rugby league |
| Players on field | 13 | 13 |
| Positions | Same position structure | Same position structure |
| Competition history | Newer elite women’s competition | Longer-established men’s competition |
| Pathway role | Elite women’s club competition | Elite men’s club competition |
| Representative connection | Jillaroos, Origin and international pathways | Kangaroos, Origin and international pathways |
Common NRLW Terms Beginners Should Know
If you're fairly new to rugby, it's worthwhile learning some of the lingo. If you start following the NRLW or the NRL, you'll hear these. Here are the terms you'll hear the most.
A try is the main way to score in rugby league. A team scores a try by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area.³
A conversion is a kick at goal taken after a try. If successful, it adds two extra points.³
The tackle count tracks how many tackles the attacking team has used in its set. In rugby league, teams usually have six tackles before they must hand over possession.³
A set is one attacking possession, usually made up of up to six tackles. Teams use each set to move downfield, build pressure or create a scoring chance.³
The ruck is the area around the tackled player where the play-the-ball happens. It is one of the busiest parts of rugby league because defenders must retreat and attackers try to restart play quickly.³
A scrum is a set restart used after certain stoppages. In modern rugby league, it is primarily a means of restarting play rather than a major contest for the ball.³
The fullback usually wears number 1 and plays behind the main defensive line. In attack, fullbacks often support breaks, join passing moves and help create tries.
The halfback usually wears number 7 and helps organise the team's attack. Halfbacks often kick, pass and make decisions near the defensive line.
The forward pack is the group of bigger, more physical players who do much of the hard running and tackling. Forwards help gain metres, defend the middle of the field and create space for attacking players.
The ladder is the competition table. It ranks teams during the regular season based on results and competition points.
Finals are the knockout or play-off matches played after the regular season. The best-performing teams on the ladder compete in finals to decide the NRLW premiers.
References
- Mee, Cameron. “Record-Breaking Season Set to Fuel Further NRLW Growth.” NRL.com, National Rugby League, 21 Feb. 2025, https://www.nrl.com/news/2025/02/21/nrlw-set-to-grow-after-record-breaking-season/. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.
- National Rugby League. “History of Rugby League Australia & The NRL.” NRL.com, https://www.nrl.com/operations/history-of-rugby-league/. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.
- National Rugby League. “International Laws of the Game (13+).” Play Rugby League, https://www.playrugbyleague.com/laws-of-the-game-community/international-13splus-laws/. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.
- National Rugby League. “NRL Holden Women’s Premiership Teams Announced.” NRL.com, 27 Mar. 2018, https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/03/27/nrl-holden-womens-premiership-teams-announced/. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.
- National Rugby League. “NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership Expansion.” NRL.com, 11 Jun. 2021, https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/06/11/nrl-telstra-womens-premiership-expansion/. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.
- National Rugby League. “NRLW Premiership.” NRL.com, https://www.nrl.com/nrlw/nrlw-premiership/. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.
- National Rugby League. “Official NRLW, National Women’s Rugby League.” NRL.com, https://www.nrl.com/nrlw/. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.
- NRL Media. “2018 NRL Women’s Program Unveiled.” Melbourne Storm, 6 Dec. 2017, https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2017/12/06/2018-nrl-womens-program-unveiled/. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.
- NRL Media Release. “2026 NRLW Telstra Women’s Premiership Schedule.” NRL.com, 14 Nov. 2025, https://www.nrl.com/news/2025/11/14/2026-nrlw-telstra-womens-premiership-schedule/. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.
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