They are the driving force behind a proposed women’s national rugby league competition.
But the Jillaroos have warned the NRL not to rush into launching the new league on the back of their Women’s Rugby League World Cup success.
The Jillaroos claimed back-to-back Cups with a 23-16 win over the Kiwi Ferns in Saturday’s final at Suncorp Stadium after a try-scoring double by centre Isabelle Kelly.
It only added momentum to plans to launch a women’s competition next year with up to six NRL-affiliated teams.
Coach Brad Donald said the Jillaroos had been pushing for the league for some time but were now wary of the NRL fast-tracking the concept and fielding an inferior product.
Worse still, Donald said the Jillaroos feared new players cutting their teeth in the sport could be at risk of injury if a new league fielded too many teams.
“It (national women’s league) is something this group has been driving for some time,” Donald said.
“And what people don’t realise is that these current shareholders (Jillaroos) in the game are really careful about what they want to do with the game.”
(Image: NRL)
The NRL is in talks to launch the new female league with a proposed end of year tournament in 2018.
“One of the things we need to see is that if we’ve got a national competition, people want to watch it and the girls have worked hard to get there and earned their right to be a part of it,” Donald said.
“The girls understand the responsibility to make sure we don’t just put 16 teams worth of women into NRL jumpers.
“There’s girls like the ones that played (in the Cup final) who have worked their backsides off for years to make sure they’re strong enough, they don’t get injured, they treat the game professionally.
“When the NRL figures out what the talent pool is like, then we’ll be able to tell you how many teams are in the competition in the next couple of years.”
Donald believed a women’s NRL competition was inevitable after the Jillaroos held out the three-time champion Kiwi Ferns and ensured they would go through 2017 undefeated.
“One of their goals was to win the Cup but the other is to inspire young girls to play footy,” Donald said of the Jillaroos.
“One day we will see an NRL competition. If these guys keep going the way they are we are not that far away.”
Kiwi Ferns coach Tony Benson all but nominated a Warriors-affiliated team for the proposed women’s league.
“For it to work I think we need a New Zealand team in there,” he said.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't make a composite team that plays home matches 1400 kms apart. I'd say start in the bigger market and expand. Also worth noting that perhaps next year is too soon. They still haven't set up too many pathways for women which is what they were worried about to begin with.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't make a composite team that plays home matches
Avatar
Roar Guru
The six teams I would have in the inaugural NRL Women's competition would be: * the Warriors (as suggested in the article), to represent New Zealand * the Storm (to represent Melbourne/Victoria, of course) * the Raiders (to represent Canberra) * the Broncos (to represent Brisbane; alternatively a composite Queensland team could be formed and they would split games between Brisbane and Townsville) * the two Sydney teams would be the Sharks and Dragons, who have fielded women's teams in recent years. That would be a strong line-up, but of course there would be provision for expansion in the future.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
union seems to be pushing 7's which gives limited opportunities for players. Suppose Olympics is the lure but a very narrow one. Hopefully RL will get Commonwealth Games status which will be an added bonus. There is room for both you know & great cross over which can only benefit both sports!
chappy
Guest
Going by TV ratings and Crowds women’s rugby league
Terry Tavita
Guest
which is more popular in australia?..women's rugby union or women's rugby league?
Justin Kearney
Guest
Probaby the 225000 who watched yesterday's game despite the cricket being on teza.
Millsy
Guest
Is it going to be a national competition or just the east coast and NZ as the men's "N"RL ?
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
All the comps I've watched from Jillaroos, State Clashes, local womens comps featured on Bar TV for example & the excellent womens Koori Cup, suggests there is a great line of talent to start an 'elite' comp. But I would not like to see it based entirely on the NRL like another sport has. I'd like to see 4 or 5 teams based regionally with non aligned NRL identities but all new creations plus bring back some famous names like the Bears, Jets, Magpies which lay in great strategic areas of Sydney.
terry tavita
Roar Rookie
pipe dream..who's going to watch it?
P2R2
Roar Rookie
typical Aussie response - same as the Olympic 7s team....oh jeez lets have a womens comp and they will be so good they will beat the world...ahem....sorry doesn t work that way