Lauren Brown reveals why NRLW needs to grow more before expanding to full-time professionalism

Lauren Brown firmly believes full-time professionalism is the future for the NRLW, but the solution isn’t rushing into it overnight. The Maroons star warns that expanding too fast can have detrimental impact beyond the field.

I grew up on the Gold Coast surrounded by sport. If I wasn’t playing touch footy or soccer, I was down at the beach with surf lifesaving.

Sport was just part of my life. It taught me resilience, competition, and teamwork.

Soccer was the first sport I really chased seriously, and it took me places I could only dream of as a kid: representing Australia at the under-16 level, playing for Brisbane Roar and Newcastle Jets in the A-League.

But I’ve never been someone who stays in one lane. After soccer, I moved into rugby 7s and had the privilege of representing Australia.

And when the opportunity came to jump into rugby league in 2020 I took it, joining the Burleigh Bears, making my Broncos debut, and wearing the maroon jersey for Queensland in the State of Origin series, all in the same year.

For me, sport has never been just about the game.

Lauren Brown in Burleigh Bears colours. Picture: Glenn Hampson

It’s about pushing yourself, about constantly learning. And that’s true off the field too.

In 2021, I started the application process for fireys, which was a long haul, before actually becoming an official firefighter in 2023.

It’s one of the most physically and mentally demanding jobs out there, and one that I absolutely love.

Firefighting doesn’t care whether you’re male or female, the standard is the same for everyone, and I really respect that.

Lauren Brown and her parents Gary and Jenny after graduating as a fire fighter in 2023.

My dad was a police officer for 42 years, and growing up, I saw the pride he took in serving the community.

That stuck with me. I wanted to do the same in my own way. Balancing both careers isn’t always easy.

I absolutely believe that full-time professionalism is the future for our game.

But we have to be careful about how we get there.

Lauren Brown believes full-time professionalism musn’t be rushed for the NRLW.

If we move too fast without the right structures around it, we risk asking players giving up careers, trades, and studies they’ve worked so hard for, and potentially leave them with very little security once their rugby league careers are over.

At the moment, the reality for most women playing rugby league is that we juggle it with other work.

I’m a firefighter, and that gives me a career I’m passionate about, but it also means I’ve had to make sacrifices, like missing the 2023 Origin series because of my fire service commitments.

That wasn’t an easy decision, but it was an important one for my future.

Lauren Brown and her dog, Denzel.

Right now, I manage it by being super organised, working closely with my coaches and my colleagues in firefighting.

It’s not perfect, but it allows me to keep both doors open: my love of footy and my long-term career.

The solution isn’t rushing everyone into full-time contracts overnight.

It’s continuing to build the game with more rounds, more teams, more sponsorships, while also investing in player development off the field.

That means things like education programs, flexible work opportunities, and financial planning support.

If we do that, players can confidently chase their dreams on the field without risking everything they’ve built off it.

If you asked me about a timeline, I’d say we can do this when the financial and player welfare systems are genuinely ready.

It’s not just about giving players a contract; it’s about giving them security, support, and a future.

The women who came before us built the foundations of this game with little reward.

We owe it to them, and to the next generation, to make sure we’re building something sustainable, not just exciting.

If we do it properly, it’ll be strong enough to last for decades to come.

Originally published as Lauren Brown reveals why NRLW needs to grow more before expanding to full-time professionalism