NRLW 2024 draw: State of Origin expansion, double-headers boost
Women’s rugby league has been handed an almighty boost for 2024, with crowds set to skyrocket thanks to the revamped competition. Check out PAMELA WHALEY’s NRLW draw analysis.
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Women’s rugby league has been handed an almighty boost in the NRLW draw by expanding the State of Origin series and boosting viewers and crowds with more prime time games and NRL double-headers.
A whopping 16 games across the first seven rounds of the NRLW season will be held before or after a men’s fixture in a double-header, which will provide better crowds and ease of planning for clubs and broadcasters.
The season kicks off with a bang too, with the two-time defending premiers but currently coachless Newcastle hosting Sydney Roosters at McDonald Jones Stadium in the prime time slot of Thursday, July 25 at 7.45pm.
It’s a masterstroke for the NRLW side to attract a big crowd, with the men’s side on a bye in round 21, making it the only game for Newcastle fans to attend.
The nine-rounds draw was announced on Monday which also featured three prime-time stand alone games on Thursday nights, as four NRLW double-headers across the season.
Cronulla also scored big with back-to-back NRL and NRLW double-headers in rounds four and five, with the men’s and women’s teams both facing the Dragons in an epic local derby at WIN Stadium on August 25.
The 16 men’s and women’s double headers is the most of any season so far, and there could be more with NRL finals still to be determined across the final two rounds of the NRLW season.
But the biggest win by far was the expansion of the State of Origin series.
The interstate contest has finally been expanded to a three-game series to be held across Thursday nights, with the first to be held at Suncorp Stadium on May 16, which will kick off Magic Round.
Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium will host game two of the series on June 6 with the third and potential decider at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on June 27.
Kicking off Magic Round with game one of the series gives the NRL the chance to eclipse last year’s attendance record for a stand alone representative women’s clash of 18275 at Townsville.
“We’ve seen growth in live crowds for the women’s competition every year and I think next year will be more the same,” said NRL CEO Andrew Abdo on Monday.
“We saw a huge turn out this year at both women’s State of Origin matches, but next year will be even bigger. I’m confident Suncorp Stadium will be heaving, it always is. But this will be the first time we get an opporutnity in a unique way to play a women’s State of Origin on the eve of Magic Round.”
Queensland retained the shield on aggregate and will get the first chance to host two games in their state as a reward - rights which will then alternate every year afterwards.
It marks a huge moment for the women’s game after they played out a bizarre one-all drawn series across an expanded two game series in 2023, sparking calls to expand the game even further.
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The timing of the state competitions is yet to be announced, but it’s expected the NSW Harvey Norman women’s competition will be moved to run alongside the NRLW season as an acting reserve grade, as well as the potential for a shortened season at the start of 2024 in the form of a round robin tournament.
That would provide players game time before playing the biggest games of the year, starting with Origin I, which was a major concern this season.
“We’re working with both state leagues on the timing and format and duration of those competitions,” Abdo said.
“The state leagues have been engaged in the process of expanding to three games.
“Importantly we have the opportunity to get the appropriate amount of preparation in camps for those state of origin series, and then have that series conclude and allow the players to then have the right amount of pre-season with their club, is a delicate balance but one we’ve been able to manage.”
NRLW DRAW
ROUND 1
Thursday, July 25
Knights v Roosters at McDonald Jones Stadium, 7:45pm
Saturday, July 27
Sharks v Cowboys at Pointsbet Stadium, 11.05am
Broncos v Eels at Suncorp Stadium, 12.45pm
Sunday, July 28
Dragons v Titans at WIN Stadium, 12pm
Tigers v Raiders at Campbelltown Stadium, 1.45pm
ROUND 2
Round 2
Saturday, August 3
Raiders v Knights at GIO Stadium, 11.05am
Titans v Tigers at Cbus Stadium, 12.45pm
Sunday, August 4
Eels v Sharks at Allianz Stadium, 12pm
Roosters v Broncos at Allianz Stadium, 1.45pm
Cowboys v Dragons at Qld Country Bank Stadium, 6.10pm
ROUND 3
Saturday, August 10
Roosters v Tigers at Industree Group Stadium, 11.05am
Raiders v Sharks at GIO Stadium, 12.45pm
Sunday, August 11
Cowboys v Eels at Totally Workwear Stadium, 12pm
Broncos v Titans at Totally Workwear Stadium, 1.45pm
Knights v Dragons at McDonald Jones Stadium, 6:10pm
ROUND 4
Saturday, August 17
Broncos v Raiders at Totally Workwear Stadium, 11.05am
Cowboys v Titans at Qld Country Bank Stadium, 12.45pm
Sunday, August 18
Dragons v Roosters at WIN Stadium, 12pm
Sharks v Knights at Pointsbet Stadium, 1.45pm
Tigers v Eels at Campbelltown Stadium, 6.10pm
ROUND 5
Saturday, August 24
Eels v Knights at Eric Tweedale Stadium, 11.05am
Raiders v Cowboys at GIO Stadium, 12.45pm
Sunday, August 25
Titans v Roosters at Cbus Stadium, 12pm
Tigers v Broncos at Leichhardt Oval, 1.45pm
Dragons v Sharks at WIN Stadium, 6.10pm
ROUND 6
Saturday, August 31
Titans v Sharks at Cbus Stadium, 11.05am
Eels v Dragons at Commbank Stadium, 12.45pm
Sunday, September 1
Knights v Tigers at McDonald Jones Stadium, 12pm
Broncos v Cowboys at Totally Workwear Stadium, 1.45pm
Roosters v Raiders at Allianz Stadium, 6.10pm
ROUND 7
Saturday, September 7
Cowboys v Tigers at Qld Country Bank Stadium, 11.05am
Dragons v Raiders at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 12.45pm
Sunday, September 8
Sharks v Roosters at Pointsbet Stadium, 12pm
Eels v Titans at Eric Tweedale Stadium, 1.45pm
Knights v Broncos at McDonald Jones Stadium, 6.10pm
ROUND 8
Thursday, September 12
Tigers v Dragons at Leichhardt Oval, 7.45pm
Saturday, September 14
Broncos v Sharks at Cbus Stadium, 12pm
Titans v Knights at Cbus Stadium, 1.45pm
Sunday, September 15
Roosters v Cowboys at Industree Group Stadium, 12pm
Raiders v Eels at GIO Stadium, 1.45pm
ROUND 9
Thursday, September 19
Sharks v Tigers at Pointsbet Stadium at 7.45pm
Saturday, September 21
Dragons v Broncos at Qld Country Bank Stadium, 1.30pm
Cowboys v Knights at Qld Country Bank Stadium, 3.15pm
Sunday, September 22
Raiders v Titans at Commbank Stadium, 1.30pm
Eels v Roosters at Commbank Stadium, 3.15pm
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