The NRLW will take major strides forward in the coming 24 months, with the competition to feature ten teams in 2024.
The NRL are yet to confirm which teams will be in line as the next to join the competition, however, while the 2022 competition later this year will still feature six teams (as the currently ongoing postponed 2021 competition does), the 2023 edition will move to eight teams, before 2024 features ten.
The Gold Coast Titans, Newcastle Knights and Parramatta Eels joined the current competition, with the New Zealand Warriors forced to drop out thanks to ongoing New Zealand border restrictions and the pressure it would have placed on semi-professional athletes to relocate.
The Warriors are tipped to rejoin the competition at the first hint of expansion, while the North Queensland Cowboys have also previously confirmed they will bid for inclusion at the next expansion opportunity.
Other teams potentially in the running include the Cronulla Sharks, who are stalwarts of the women’s game, and both the Canberra Raiders and Melbourne Storm for their geographic location. The Raiders have already announced their bid to join the competition for 2023.
Other Sydney clubs could also be considered, with the South Sydney Rabbitohs also coming out in support of the move to expand the competition.
Women's State of Origin is also set to increase to a two-game series in 2023, with payments for Origin matches also going from $4,000 to $6,000 this year.
Expansion teams will be confirmed in the middle of this year.
Also included in today's announcement from the NRL is the fact the salary cap will receive an immediate 28 per cent boost, with clubs also able to sign two marquee players.
It means for the first time, the game's elite players are set to earn a wage of around $60,000 for the year, while marquee players - of which there will be 12 - will earn more.
