By Billie Eder
The NRLW competition will be a key selling point for the National Rugby League’s next media rights deal, according to chief executive Andrew Abdo, following the success of the 2024 women’s State of Origin series which drew more than three million viewers across the three games.
The NRL is set to go to market for its next broadcast deal before the end of the year, despite its current $400 million a season deal with Foxtel, Nine Entertainment, Sky New Zealand and other partners not due to expire until 2027.
Representatives from all 10 NRLW teams at the season launch in Barangaroo on Tuesday. Credit: James Brickwood
With the NRLW set to expand to 12 teams in 2025 with the introduction of the Warriors and Bulldogs, Abdo said the growth of women’s competition would be an appealing and profitable part of negotiations.
“Next year we move from 10 to 12 teams, and the commission has always said that they’re committed to growing and growing sustainably and not compromising quality over quantity,” Abdo said.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo at the 2024 NRLW launch on Tuesday.Credit: James Brickwood
“But having said that, we have a bold ambition to continue growing the number of women’s teams, and provide all clubs and their communities with the opportunity to complete the pathway, but we will do so sustainably. And, leading into the next rights cycle, the women’s game is going to be incredibly strategic and important for us – it’s a value driver, it’s already driving great results for the game and for our partners, and for us to be able to monetise that means we can put more money back into the game, the players’ salaries and of course grassroots football.”
However, the NRL doesn’t yet have a timeline for how many NRLW and NRL teams they would like by the time the new rights deal rolls around in 2028 – the men’s game is expected to have an 18th team in either Papua New Guinea or Perth some time after 2027.
“The [Australian Rugby League] Commission has got a bold vision for growth and for expansion, and that’s men’s and women’s teams, but what the right number is and when, that’s the work that we’re doing now, and we want to make sure that we have all the data, and we’ve entered into an RFP [request for proposal] for bidders on expansion,” Abdo said.
“Part of that process is not just for a men’s team, but for a women’s team as well so we have the full picture, we understand the readiness and the right timing for each market.”
NRL and NRLW is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now
For Olympics news, results and expert analysis sent daily throughout the Games, sign up for our Sport newsletter.