2024 NRL Women's season

The 2024 NRLW Premiership will be the seventh professional season of Women's rugby league in Australia. The number of teams, start date and duration of the season is yet to be confirmed by the NRL, with the calendar and expansion to be discussed by the Australian Rugby League Commission.[1]

NRL Telstra Women's Premiership
Broadcast partnersNine Network
Fox League
Sky Sport (NZ)
Sky Sports (UK)

Teams

The ten teams that participated in the 2023 season will return for the 2024 season.

Colours Club Season Head coach Captain(s)
 Brisbane Broncos 7th season Scott Prince Ali Brigginshaw
 Canberra Raiders 2nd season Darrin Borthwick Simaima Taufa and Zahara Temara
 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2nd season Tony Herman Tiana Penitani
 Gold Coast Titans 4th season Karyn Murphy Georgia Hale
 Newcastle Knights 4th season Ronald Griffiths Hannah Southwell and Tamika Upton
 North Queensland Cowboys 2nd season Ben Jeffries Kirra Dibb
 Parramatta Eels 4th season Kennedy Cherrington and Rachael Pearson
 St. George Illawarra Dragons 7th season Jamie Soward [2] Raecene McGregor
 Sydney Roosters 7th season John Strange[3] Isabelle Kelly
 Wests Tigers 2nd season Brett Kimmorley Kezie Apps and Botille Vette-Welsh

In late August 2023 the NRL asked the seven other clubs for expressions of interest in joining an expanded NRLW competition.[4] Although expansion in the 2024 season is unlikely, it has not been ruled out by the NRL.[1]

Scheduling

If the number of teams remains ten, and the NRL schedule the 2024 season in the same way that the 2023 was arranged, then the ten teams will play each other once across nine rounds, followed by a two-week final series involving the top four teams. First place on the ladder plays fourth-place and second-place plays third-place in semi-finals, with the winners meeting in the Grand Final.[5]

The start, duration, and conclusion of the 2024 season will be influenced by several factors, some known and others currently undecided.

  • The State Competitions.
    • New South Wales — 11 rounds and a Finals Series; and
    • Queensland — 9 rounds and a Finals Series;
      • Are they to be played before the NRLW period (As in past years) or in parallel to the NRLW season as a reserve grade competition?
      • The purpose of aligning the competitions to run in parallel would be:
        • To cater for players who don't initially make the NRLW playing 18 at their club, by providing them with a high-standard secondary competition; and
        • Ensuring players brought into the NRLW squads to cover injuries are match-fit.[1]
  • A two-match Women's State of Origin series.
  • A seven-week preparation period.[5]
  • Two weeks of leave.
  • An All Stars match in February 2024.

Players and transfers
Main article: List of current NRL Women's team squads

The 2024 season salary cap for clubs is $1,020,000 and the minimum wage for contracted players is $34,000. Squad size is 24 players plus 4 development players.[5] The first transfer signing was announced on 20 October 2023. Clubs are required to fill their 24-player roster by late May 2024.

Table last updated: 22 Oct 2023.

2024 NRLW Transfers
Player 2023 Club 2024 Club Announcement
Date		 Reference
Jakiya Whitfeld Wests Tigers North Queensland Cowboys20 Oct 2023[6]

References
  1. Whaley, Pamela (20 September 2023). "Timing is everything as NRLW plans future". Daily Telegraph. p. 61.
  2. Chalk, Ethan Lee (14 August 2023). "Jamie Soward agrees to historic two-year contract". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  3. "NRLW Head Coach John Strange Extends with Roosters". Roosters.com.au. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  4. Eder, Billie (15 September 2023). "Roosters coach fears standard will suffer with fast-tracked NRLW expansion". NRL. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  5. "In principle agreement on key financial terms for NRLW CBA". NRL. NRL Media. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  6. "Cowboys sign NRLW Winger of the Year Whitfeld". Cowboys.com.au. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
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