John Strange proposes State of Origin or trans-Tasman Test take place for women in Las Vegas 2026

A premiership-winning NRLW coach has called for the NRL to give the women’s game a proper contest in Vegas 2026 instead of axing it entirely.

Premiership-winning NRLW coach John Strange has called on the NRL to give the Jillaroos a proper contest like State of Origin or a trans-Tasman Test before axing the women’s game from the Las Vegas schedule next year.

Following a one-sided 90-4 flogging of England in the first women’s Test match to be played in the US, the NRL is considering dropping the Jillaroos game altogether after claims four games is too many to keep fans engaged.

Strange, who has taken over as NSW Origin women’s coach in 2025, says the women’s Australian team need not be punished for being too successful, but says there’s only two options the NRL should consider in future.

“It could be Origin I, obviously we’d have to make sure the girls are prepped for the contact and the skill that’s needed, they don’t want to let themselves down. Or, right now, the only international fixture that’s going to be competitive is the Jillaroos v Kiwis,” he said on Thursday.

“The Kiwis side are all playing NRLW so they’re getting that week in, week out hardened competition against each other.

“They’re the only two fixtures I think they should be looking at if they’re going to continue it.”

The Jillaroos demolished England in Vegas. Picture: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The Jillaroos were the third of four games in a stacked event at Allegiant Stadium but the lopsided scoreline killed the buzz in the stadium, although the broadcast numbers were the highest for a women’s international.

Strange, who was there with the LA Roosters for the Nines tournament and to watch his son Ethan play for Canberra, said he can understand why there are calls to cut a game from next year’s schedule but thinks the women need to be given another chance.

John Strange. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

“The women’s Test started off with a great atmosphere but I noticed it around 10 minutes before halftime, the atmosphere wasn’t there, and it’s not going to be when it’s not close,” he said.

“Unfortunately, and for me being heavily involved in the women’s game and it’s disappointing, was people were starting to leave.

“I don’t think they should scrap the women’s fixture, I just think they should look at doing it in a better way, whether it’s Origin I or Jillaroos v Kiwis.

Strange proposed Women’s State of Origin I could take place in Vegas. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

“All people want is a tight game with a good atmosphere, and I don’t think we’d have these discussions around shortening it to three games if that were the case.

“I think that’s because of the gulf in standard between the NRLW players and the Super League players.”

He said the 86-point scoreline was not the best way to advertise women’s rugby league to the world.

“To be honest I was disappointed, it wasn’t the best advertisement for women’s rugby league,” he said.

“I was over at the World Cup in 2022 and England made the semi-final against the Kiwis and lost, but they were competitive. But we’ve had two NRLW seasons since then and in my opinion, I think our domestic competition here is so competitive, and over in the Super League in England, it isn’t. That’s not the fault of those players, it’s the competition they play in.

“Every game as an NRLW coach, you don’t go into any game thinking you’ll win, and all those girls push each other.

“So when you’ve got the best of them in a Test team, against England, who had two NRLW players, you can see the gulf in the domestic competitions.”

Originally published as John Strange proposes State of Origin or trans-Tasman Test take place for women in Las Vegas 2026