‘Premier elite women’s football competition in Australia’: Sharks miss out on hosting NRLW double-header

All the key details have been revealed for next year’s NRLW competition, with one team missing out on hosting a double-header.

There will be 30 NRLW and NRL double-headers next season after the draws for both competitions were released on Friday morning.

NRLW fans have to wait until round 7 for the grand final rematch between the Broncos and Roosters who will again be favourites to meet in the decider given they combined for two losses in 2025.

Magic Round will head to Wagga Wagga where fans will be hoping for better weather after rain lashed Newcastle earlier this year, while there are only three five-day turnarounds across the entire schedule.

Magic Round in Newcastle was marred by awful weather. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

The season kicks off with the Sharks hosting the Knights in a stand-alone game on July 2, but Cronulla will be the only team who don’t host a double-header event with a men’s side despite making the preliminary final in both competitions, with a lack of facilities at Sharks Stadium proving costly.

“By every measure, the Telstra Women’s Premiership is the premier elite women’s football competition in Australia and the Pacific,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.

“The 2025 season delivered more live ball and ball in play than ever before, along with a record number of golden-point matches. In an intense 11-round competition, every moment on the field matters for every club.

“This season the draw delivers a more even distribution of double-header fixtures between the clubs, giving more fans across Australia and New Zealand the chance to experience the women’s and men’s premiership on the same game day.

“We also look forward to taking the second NRLW Magic Round to a town that is synonymous with rugby league and has produced so many of our game’s great male and female players in Wagga Wagga, giving regional rugby league fans an opportunity to experience the excitement of a full round of matches and the festival atmosphere that is unique to Magic Round.”

FULL 2026 NRLW DRAW

ROUND ONE

Thursday July 2

Sharks vs Knights at Shark Park, 7:45pm

Saturday July 4

Titans vs Roosters at Cbus Super Stadium, 12:45pm

Dragons vs Raiders at WIN Stadium, 3:15pm

Broncos vs Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium, 5:15pm

Sunday July 5

Eels vs Tigers at CommBank Stadium, 11:50am

Warriors vs Bulldogs at Go Media Stadium, 1:45pm

ROUND TWO

Thursday July 9

Sharks vs Broncos at Sharks Park, 7:45pm

Saturday July 11

Cowboys vs Tigers at QLD Country Bank Stadium, 12:45p,

Bulldogs vs Titans at Accor Stadium, 3:15pm

Roosters vs Knights at Allianz Stadium, 5:15pm

Sunday July 12

Raiders vs Warriors at GIO Stadium, 12:00pm

Dragons vs Eels at WIN Stadium, 1:45pm

ROUND THREE

Saturday July 18

Raiders vs Roosters at GIO Stadium, 12:45pm

Warriors vs Cowboys at Go Media Stadium, 3:15pm

Bulldogs vs Sharks at Accor Stadium, 5:15pm

Sunday July 19

Titans vs Eels at Cbus Super Stadium, 11:50am

Broncos vs Tigers at Totally Workwear Stadium, 1:45pm

Knights vs Dragons at McDonald Jones Stadium, 6:15pm

ROUND FOUR

Saturday July 25

Raiders vs Sharks at GIO Stadium, 12:45pm

Bulldogs vs Dragons at Accor Stadium, 3:15pm

Cowboys vs Titans at QLD Country Bank Stadium, 5:15pm

Sunday July 26

Eels vs Warriors at Eric Tweedale Stadium, 11:50am

Broncos vs Knights at Totally Workwear Stadium, 1:45pm

Tigers vs Roosters at Campbelltown Stadium, 6:15pm

ROUND FIVE

Saturday August 1

Sharks vs Tigers at Geohex Park 1, 12:00pm

Dragons vs Roosters at Geohex Park 2, 2:15pm

Raiders vs Cowboys at Geohex Park 3, 4:15pm

Sunday August 2

Bulldogs vs Broncos at Geohex Park 1, 12:00pm

Titans vs Warriors at Geohex Park 2, 1:45pm

Eels vs Knights at Geohex Park 3, 4:00pm

ROUND SIX

Saturday August 8

Bulldogs vs Cowboys at Belmore Sportsground, 12:45pm

Warriors vs Knights at Go Media Stadium, 3:15pm

Sharks vs Titans at Shark Park, 5:15pm

Sunday August 9

Raiders vs Broncos at GIO Stadium, 11:50am

Dragons vs Tigers at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 1:45pm

Roosters vs Eels at Allianz, 6:15pm

ROUND SEVEN

Saturday August 15

Titans vs Dragons at Cbus Super Stadium, 12:45pm

Eels vs Broncos at CommBank Stadium, 3:!5pm

Broncos vs Roosters at Suncorp Stadium, 5:15pm

Sunday August 16

Knights vs Raiders at McDonald Jones Stadium, 11:50am

Tigers vs Warriors at CommBank Stadium, 1:45pm

Cowboys vs Sharks at QLD Country Bank Stadium, 6:15pm

ROUND EIGHT

Saturday August 22

Knights vs Tigers at McDonald Jones Stadium, 12:45pm

Bulldogs vs Raiders at Belmore Sportsground, 3:!5pm

Sharks vs Eels at Shark Park, 5:15pm

Sunday August 23

Titans vs Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium, 11:50am

Roosters vs Warriors at Allianz Stadium, 1:45pm

Dragons vs Cowboys at Allianz Stadium, 6:15pm

ROUND NINE

Saturday August 29

Titans vs Raiders at Cbus Super Stadium, 12:45pm

Roosters vs Sharks at Allianz Stadium, 3:15pm

Cowboys vs Knights at QLD Country Bank Stadium, 5:15pm

Sunday August 30

Warriors vs Dragons at Go Media Stadium, 11:50am

Eels vs Broncos at CommBank Stadium, 1:45pm

Tigers vs Bulldogs at Campbelltown Stadium, 6:15pm

ROUND TEN

Saturday September 5

Dragons vs Broncos at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 12:45pm

Cowboys vs Roosters at QLD Country Bank Stadium, 3:15pm

Knights vs Bulldogs at McDonald Jones Stadium, 5:15pm

Sunday September 6

Warriors vs Sharks at Go Media Stadium, 11:50am

Tigers vs Titans at CommBank Stadium, 1:45pm

Raiders vs Eels at GIO Stadium, 6:15pm

ROUND ELEVEN

Thursday September 10

Roosters vs Bulldogs at Allianz Stadium, 7:45pm

Friday September 11

Tigers vs Raiders at Campbelltown Stadium, 5:40pm

Saturday September 12

Eels vs Cowboys at CommBank Stadium, 12:00pm

Sharks vs Dragons at Shark Park, 1:45pm

Sunday September 13

Broncos vs Warriors at Totally Workwear Stadium, 12:00pm

Knights vs Titans at McDonald Jones Stadium, 1:45pm

Originally published as ‘Premier elite women’s football competition in Australia’: Sharks miss out on hosting NRLW double-header