NRLW 2024 - Has to be the best season ever

[Damien]

Hot on the heels of Womens SOO records I don't think it's even a question in this case. The NRLW is just getting bigger and better year on year with really exciting plans for future years too:

The NRL is set to use the next three years to accelerate the growth of the women's competition as they map out a path to NRLW expansion. 

The NRLW has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years, with the 2024 season expected to be the biggest yet on the back of record-breaking Women's State of Origin ratings. 

The competition will kick off with a clash between Newcastle and the Roosters in the prime-time Thursday slot on Channel 9 and Fox Sports. 

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said the match is an opportunity to connect with a new audience both within and outside rugby league. 

"Engagement from fans is important for any professional sport," Abdo said at the launch of the new NRLW season on Tuesday. "Fans are the lifeblood of our sport. The more popular a sport is, the more we can engage with our fans and provide them more of what they want. 

"From the '22 season to the '23 season there were more tackles, more points, more tries, more offloads and as a result of that fans are really responding positively. It's not just about viewership and ratings, it's also registrations at the grassroots level. 

"We saw young girls here today looking up at their idols, saying 'that could be me playing in a professional sports league'. Registrations are up in double figures. That bodes well for any sport because that's the long-term lifeblood of our sport."

This year's NRLW competition will be a 10-team, nine-round season with the top four progressing to semi-finals before culminating in a decider on NRL Grand Final day. 

The competition will expand to 12 teams next year, with the Warriors and Bulldogs added to the fold. 

https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/07/23/nrlw-set-for-pivotal-season-amid-popularity-surge/

[gingerjon]

31 minutes ago, Damien said:

Hot on the heels of Womens SOO records I don't think it's even a question in this case. The NRLW is just getting bigger and better year on year with really exciting plans for future years too:

The NRL is set to use the next three years to accelerate the growth of the women's competition as they map out a path to NRLW expansion. 

The NRLW has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years, with the 2024 season expected to be the biggest yet on the back of record-breaking Women's State of Origin ratings. 

The competition will kick off with a clash between Newcastle and the Roosters in the prime-time Thursday slot on Channel 9 and Fox Sports. 

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said the match is an opportunity to connect with a new audience both within and outside rugby league. 

"Engagement from fans is important for any professional sport," Abdo said at the launch of the new NRLW season on Tuesday. "Fans are the lifeblood of our sport. The more popular a sport is, the more we can engage with our fans and provide them more of what they want. 

"From the '22 season to the '23 season there were more tackles, more points, more tries, more offloads and as a result of that fans are really responding positively. It's not just about viewership and ratings, it's also registrations at the grassroots level. 

"We saw young girls here today looking up at their idols, saying 'that could be me playing in a professional sports league'. Registrations are up in double figures. That bodes well for any sport because that's the long-term lifeblood of our sport."

This year's NRLW competition will be a 10-team, nine-round season with the top four progressing to semi-finals before culminating in a decider on NRL Grand Final day. 

The competition will expand to 12 teams next year, with the Warriors and Bulldogs added to the fold. 

https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/07/23/nrlw-set-for-pivotal-season-amid-popularity-surge/

Potentially the best women's sports league in the world.

[Damien]

6 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

Potentially the best women's sports league in the world.

It certainly has the potential and any gap that does exist is far closer than in men's sports. That's the beauty of women's sport when it comes to growth, its essentially a clean greenfield project and just doesn't have the same obstacles.

The planned growth of the NRLW is very exciting and it certainly has every chance of being the number 1 league when it comes to contact sports. If it isnt already.

[Damien]

Great TV ratings with women's RL having 5 of the top 10 highest rating womens sport programs on FTA.

Its also interesting how far the NRLW now seems to be going ahead of the AFLW. A few years ago it seemed like the AFL had stolen a march on the NRL when it came to the womens game but that seems to have been completely reversed now.  With future expansion on the cards the NRLW should continue to go from strength to strength:

AusOpen Womens Final 1.334m 

Matildas/China 1.103m

Origin III 1.101m

Origin II 1.083m

Matildas/Uzbekistan 992k

Origin I 977k

NRLW Grand Final 697k

Matildas/Uzbekistan 679k

Thu N NRLW Knights/Roosters 409k

Matildas/Brazil 401k (not cons)

...

AFLW Grand Final 354k (not cons) 

https://x.com/footyindustryAU/status/1863117651482235000?t=AlO3yv8NwDoIcZL82ehCCw&s=19

 

[Damien]

Surely figures like this should translate to a decent TV deal solely for the NRLW too. That obviously can only be good for future expansion and growth too.

I know the NRL like to bundle in all their rights together but to me that always seems limiting, a different debate I know.

[Dunbar]

I was interested to read that there will be 33 NRL-NRLW double headers next season.  I am always in two minds on whether we should look to have men and women double headers (club and country) or if the women's game should stand alone.

[gingerjon]

1 hour ago, Damien said:

Great TV ratings with women's RL having 5 of the top 10 highest rating womens sport programs on FTA.

Its also interesting how far the NRLW now seems to be going ahead of the AFLW. A few years ago it seemed like the AFL had stolen a march on the NRL when it came to the womens game but that seems to have been completely reversed now.  With future expansion on the cards the NRLW should continue to go from strength to strength:

AusOpen Womens Final 1.334m 

Matildas/China 1.103m

Origin III 1.101m

Origin II 1.083m

Matildas/Uzbekistan 992k

Origin I 977k

NRLW Grand Final 697k

Matildas/Uzbekistan 679k

Thu N NRLW Knights/Roosters 409k

Matildas/Brazil 401k (not cons)

...

AFLW Grand Final 354k (not cons) 

https://x.com/footyindustryAU/status/1863117651482235000?t=AlO3yv8NwDoIcZL82ehCCw&s=19

 

AFLW is doing pretty well for stand alone attendance and participation - it's just very obviously at the (being kind) embryonic stage in terms of having enough quality players on the field. The recent season was a bit of a car crash but seems to have done okay for attendances considering.

NRLW is a real success and shows that when you have competitive RL, it's an almost unbeatable sport to watch.

Double headers are a sign of cowardice in taking it further.

[RigbyLuger]

Funny reading how the women's union comp here are trying to sign the US woman with a load of Instagram followers for the clout. NRLW doesn't need the gimmicks to be the biggest women's rugby competition in the world.

[Damien]

3 minutes ago, RigbyLuger said:

Funny reading how the women's union comp here are trying to sign the US woman with a load of Instagram followers for the clout. NRLW doesn't need the gimmicks to be the biggest women's rugby competition in the world.

I think because it is now the biggest and best Rugby competition in the world female athletes from across the world are attracted to playing in it.

Talented women athletes being able to transfer across sports is much more fluid than in the men's versions and there are limited opportunities for female athletes to make good money. The NRLW has a real opportunity to be the world's number 1 contact league for female athletes.

[Dunbar]

5 hours ago, Damien said:

I think because it is now the biggest and best Rugby competition in the world female athletes from across the world are attracted to playing in it.

Talented women athletes being able to transfer across sports is much more fluid than in the men's versions and there are limited opportunities for female athletes to make good money. The NRLW has a real opportunity to be the world's number 1 contact league for female athletes.

Interested in why you say this/think this is?

[Damien]

54 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

Interested in why you say this/think this is?

I just think the women's game is relatively immature compared to the men's and isn't even full time professional yet. Weve not even had a generation of players playing at the kind of level we now see and it's only 2 years ago that we had 6 teams, with frequent concerns about expanding too quickly and quality.

In 10 years my answer could well be different but at the moment it's inevitable that at the elite level a men's full time professional NRL team will have their skills and fitness much more honed than one that isn't and that it will be much harder for a top athlete to switch.

Also far more competition to simply make it will mean at the elite level there is less of a drop off in standard. I think women's RL is still getting there on the player front and is still looking for top athletes, hence all the switching between Union and League with players seamlessly playing both in the same year. An expanding competition and less players means more chance of making it in my opinion, particularly if you are coming from a full time elite environment. 

That's not to knock the women's game, I just think that's where we are at the moment and when it comes to growth its no bad thing.

Edited December 1, 2024 by Damien

[gingerjon]

12 minutes ago, Damien said:

I just think the women's game is relatively immature compared to the men's and isn't even full time professional yet. Weve not even had a generation of players playing at the kind of level we now see and it's only 2 years ago that we had 6 teams, with frequent concerns about expanding too quickly and quality.

In 10 years my answer could well be different but at the moment it's inevitable that at the elite level a men's full time professional NRL team will have their skills and fitness much more honed than one that isn't and that it will be much harder for a top athlete to switch.

Also far more competition to simply make it will mean at the elite level there is less of a drop off in standard. I think women's RL is still getting there on the player front and is still looking for top athletes, hence all the switching between Union and League with players seamlessly playing both in the same year. An expanding competition and less players means more chance of making it in my opinion, particularly if you are coming from a full time elite environment. 

That's not to knock the women's game, I just think that's where we are at the moment and when it comes to growth its no bad thing.

The women's game is still in its C B Fry era. It won't be for much longer.

[Damien]

8 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

The women's game is still in its C B Fry era. It won't be for much longer.

Had to Google C B Fry but yes that's my point point really and much more succinct than I managed  

[RBKnight]

1 hour ago, gingerjon said:

The women's game is still in its C B Fry era. It won't be for much longer.

Has Ali Brigginshaw been offered the throne of Albania ?

[Dunbar]

1 hour ago, Damien said:

I just think the women's game is relatively immature compared to the men's and isn't even full time professional yet. Weve not even had a generation of players playing at the kind of level we now see and it's only 2 years ago that we had 6 teams, with frequent concerns about expanding too quickly and quality.

In 10 years my answer could well be different but at the moment it's inevitable that at the elite level a men's full time professional NRL team will have their skills and fitness much more honed than one that isn't and that it will be much harder for a top athlete to switch.

Also far more competition to simply make it will mean at the elite level there is less of a drop off in standard. I think women's RL is still getting there on the player front and is still looking for top athletes, hence all the switching between Union and League with players seamlessly playing both in the same year. An expanding competition and less players means more chance of making it in my opinion, particularly if you are coming from a full time elite environment. 

That's not to knock the women's game, I just think that's where we are at the moment and when it comes to growth its no bad thing.

I agree with your description and conclusions on women's Rugby League.  From your initial comment, I thought you meant women found it easier to move between all sports but I assume from your answer here that you were specifically talking about Rugby League (or other sports in the early fast development stages).

[The Rocket]

19 hours ago, gingerjon said:

Double headers are a sign of cowardice in taking it further.

The increase in doubleheaders in this coming year was requested by the NRLW players themselves.

Edited December 2, 2024 by The Rocket

[The Rocket]

19 hours ago, gingerjon said:

AFLW is doing pretty well for stand alone attendance and participation

Fumbleball  fans are nuts, it really is like a cult, the crowds they got while not huge certainly put the stand-alone NRLW crowds to shame.

The real evidence is in the TV broadcast viewing figures, the NRLW games regularly appeared in the top30 rating programs for the day. On the other hand in the whole fumbleball-w season I only saw 2 games appear in the top 30 programmes, and one of those was a semi and the other the GF despite both being on FTA primetime Saturday night.

In fact the fumbleball - w GF rated half of what the NRLW achieved in the overall figure, the 25 - 54, 16 - 39 categories and let`s not forget their comp has been around several years longer than the NRLW.

[gingerjon]

23 minutes ago, The Rocket said:

The doubleheaders was pushed by the NRLW players themselves.

I'd trust the players to know what's best for themselves as players - I'd not be asking them how to sustainably grow a new market, secure sponsors etc. That's not their role.

And, as ever, the difference between what players say when playing and what they reveal afterwards is often quite wide.

We had a load of England women's cricketers talking up international double headers and co-tours a while back. Now they're in the commentary box, they tend to say they hated being second fiddle.

[stookie]

On 02/12/2024 at 18:31, The Rocket said:

The increase in doubleheaders in this coming year was requested by the NRLW players themselves.

Interesting, do you have a link for that, TR?

Everything I've read prior to this, is that the women prefer playing in standalone fixtures. Even if the crowds are smaller, they know the crowd is there to watch and support them and them alone.

 

I'm still half-way on double headers. There are still a lot of NRL fans that state they won't even watch the women's game on TV, but then when some eventually do (say getting to a game early and catching the end of the women's game), are impressed and do start following it. (Source: mainly reddit).

For now, I think we still need to expose more people to the game, and double headers do that. After that, the quality of the football does the rest.

[unapologetic pedant]

On 02/12/2024 at 07:57, gingerjon said:

We had a load of England women's cricketers talking up international double headers and co-tours a while back. Now they're in the commentary box, they tend to say they hated being second fiddle.

Very fickle. Should have known. Hell hath no fury like a woman playing second fiddle.

[unapologetic pedant]

On 01/12/2024 at 20:19, RBKnight said:

Has Ali Brigginshaw been offered the throne of Albania ?

Has Amy Hardcastle taken up a coaching role at Halifax?

[unapologetic pedant]

This @Click geezer is fast turning into a minor irritant.

[Click]

3 hours ago, unapologetic pedant said:

This @Click geezer is fast turning into a minor irritant.

You shouldn't get so precious about reactions to your opinions.

[The Rocket]

On 04/12/2024 at 01:37, stookie said:

Interesting, do you have a link for that, TR?

Everything I've read prior to this, is that the women prefer playing in standalone fixtures. Even if the crowds are smaller, they know the crowd is there to watch and support them and them alone.

Had a look and it was the RLPA (players union) pushing it. So effectively on the women`s behalf.

Look the argument is despite mid-week stand-alone games rating very well - sometimes over a million - the RLPA is arguing that because the women are part-time and mostly holding full-time jobs they want to be compensated for having to play midweek. The other downside is the mid-week crowds are poor.

The NRL, who are keen to sell the NRLW broadcast rights in the next tv deal are arguing that if they play them on the weekends prior to NRL games they`ll be up against other NRL games and will rate poorly, devaluing their worth.

At the end of the day it has been shown that fans don`t mind turning up early to catch the women`s game on a double-header with the men`s team from the same club, so without being compensated for playing weeknights this is where they would rather play at the present.

So it`s a bit of a chicken and egg situation. It appears the NRL have agreed to shift the games to weekends, build support, and perhaps ultimately, as the wage levels of the women`s game increase to the point where the players can go fulltime and from there perhaps shift some games back to mid-week where it has proven to rate well.

[unapologetic pedant]

7 hours ago, The Rocket said:

So it`s a bit of a chicken and egg situation. 

I'll take the liberty of quoting myself from the AFL thread in AOB -

"With the exception of Soccer in the USA, women's domestic team comps compete for attention with long-established men's comps which saturate the market and set the parameters"

Congestion in the Aussie RL market is about to intensify with a 9th, and possibly 10th, weekly NRL game. NRLW will filter through the interstices of NRL to an even greater extent.

Origin is where Women's RL fully captures media and public attention. All 3 games rated substantially higher than a typical regular-season Thursday-night NRL fixture.

On 02/12/2024 at 07:44, The Rocket said:

On the other hand in the whole fumbleball-w season I only saw 2 games appear in the top 30 programmes, and one of those was a semi and the other the GF despite both being on FTA primetime Saturday night.

Playing mostly in the men's off-season is clearly a mixed blessing for AFLW. Worth keeping in mind lest the NRL leadership start toying with this option for NRLW.