NRL set to launch Women’s Premiership

The NRL has announced a new era for Women’s Rugby League, unveiling a program of events covering everything from an NRL Women’s Premiership to a stand-alone State of Origin match and Jillaroos international matches.

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg confirmed details of the new competition on Wednesday, which will feature up to six teams playing in the lead-up to and during the NRL finals.

Greenberg said the new competition was scheduled to be played as "double-headers" in the lead up to and during NRL Finals matches, to ensure the women’s teams are given the chance to play on the biggest stage.

The new women’s program unveiled on Wednesday would also feature:

• A stand-alone State of Origin match (formerly known as the Interstate Challenge) between New South Wales and Queensland, played during the NRL’s representative weekend in mid-June.
• State League competitions, with Grand Finals to be played as double-headers prior to Women In League Round matches.
• A National Championships Carnival and Talent Combine, congregating the best state talent on a national stage and providing a sequential pathway for female players to progress to the elite level.
• The Jillaroos playing international matches in the Pacific and New Zealand.

An announcement on the NRL clubs aligned with the 2018 Women's Premiership teams will be made in the new year.