‘It’s best for our game’: NRLW’s ‘slow approach’ to expansion praised ahead of sixth season
The NRLW’s gradual expansion has been praised by the game’s biggest stars as four new teams join the league for its sixth season.
Can anyone stop the Sydney Roosters and Mille Boyle?
That’s the question every NRLW team will be asking when the sixth edition of the women’s competition kicks off this weekend, ushering in a new era for the game.
The NRLW has been expanded to nine rounds of action, while four new teams have been added — the Wests Tigers, Cronulla Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys and Canberra Raiders.
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Boyle won two premierships with the Broncos and the most recent title with Newcastle, before making the move down to Sydney to join a Roosters super team already featuring the likes of Isabelle Kelly and Jess Sergis.
The Roosters are the red-hot favourites to win their second premiership this season.
Sergis told news.com.au she hopes her star-studded side can find the right chemistry to go all the way.
“We’ve recruited really well,” Sergis said.
“We’ve got such big name players and that can be great at times but I think it’s definitely how you gel together as a team. We’ve looked really good at training but putting that into a game, we’ll see how we go.
“I’m just hoping we go out there on Saturday and play like we’ve been training, which has been quite good.”
The Roosters’ season opener against the Brisbane Broncos is a grudge match of sorts, given the Roosters poached Tarryn Aitken and Amber Hall, as well as Boyle’s history at the club.
“I think this Saturday is going to be quite a battle coming up against the Broncos,” Sergis said.
“We’ve recruited some of their girls — Tarryn Aitken and Amber Hall and Millie’s obviously played there as well.
“It’s going to be a big battle. It’ll be nice to see where we’re at as a playing group and what we can work on. I think the Broncos are going to be very tough first up.”
“It’s just preparing well and having that mindset of playing the game we want to play, be consistent. Saturday will be fun, hopefully we build on that and take out the premiership.”
The NRLW has taken the gradual approach to expansion, in contrast to the AFLW’s rush to introduce an 18-team league to match the men’s competition.
The slower approach appears to be the right one, with players confident there is enough depth of talent across the 10 teams to maintain the high quality of rugby league played in NRLW.
“We’ve taken the slow approach in the early years, which has been great but I think we’re definitely ready to add those four extra teams in,” Sergis said.
“We’re ready to play longer rounds and push our bodies to the limits. It’s best for the women’s game.
“Obviously the more rounds you play, the better you play, the better you gel as a team. I can guarantee halfway through those rounds, I think our game is going to be exceptional.
“It’s best for our game and hopefully in the coming years we’ll add a couple more teams and keep growing our game as it should be.”
Expansion has seen several star players switch teams, and Cronulla have compiled an impressive line-up featuring Tiana Penitani, Emma Tonegato and Jada Taylor.
Penitani, who was joined the Sharks from Parramatta, said the depth of teams will be tested mid-season but the NRLW has got the balance right when it comes to expansion.
“I really like the way we’ve gradually expanded the game,” Penitani told news.com.au.
“To main that high level product of footy, that’s what we needed to do. I’m excited about the longer season particularly, I think that’s something the game has needed for a couple of years now, is that extended season.
“I hope that we do stay at 10 teams for couple of years because I’m not sure how much depth there is yet, but it definitely will be there four or five down the track.”
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