The NRL faces the prospect of starting its inaugural women’s league without a team in its traditional heartland with all four western Sydney clubs declining to apply for a licence.
NRL clubs had until close of business on Friday to officially stake a claim for one of at least six licences on offer for the proposed competition later this year.
However despite most clubs showing initial interest in December, Canterbury, Wests Tigers Parramatta and Penrith are among seven teams to pull out of the running.
St George Illawarra, Cronulla, the Sydney Roosters, Brisbane and South Sydney were the only clubs to declare they would be formally expressing their interest.
It was uncertain whether the Warriors or Newcastle would make a submission.
Manly, Canterbury, Gold Coast and Canberra opted to hold off at least until the following season, citing monetary restrictions and a lack of time to prepare a squad.
It is believed it would cost clubs about $500,000 to field a team, which includes a licencing fee and match payments for players.
Despite the hesitation from its western Sydney powerhouses, though, the NRL is keen to press on with its competition plans.
“The level of interest in the women’s competition has been positive from fans and clubs alike,” an NRL spokesperson told AAP.
“We will be discussing all submissions with clubs and will make an announcement on the competition structure in due course.”
It is understood the short-term league will be staged in the lead-up to the men’s finals series, culminating in a decider to be played before the men’s grand final in October.
The move comes as interest continues to mount in the women’s game following the success of the Rugby League World Cup and State of Origin.
The Dragons said they were always keen on joining the first national women’s league.
“We have a strong history and association with the development of women’s rugby league across our region, particularly in the Illawarra, where we established pathways and competitions in 2001,” the Dragons said in a statement.
“The NRL has indicated that there will be only six licences available initially for a five-year period and as a club, we are presently in the process of developing our submission to be included in this competition.”
Justin Kearney
Guest
Oops I was wrong. They scraped in 197000 between them :)
Justin Kearney
Guest
Nines has been in existence for quite a few years now. We even played a preseason comp here in tassie 7 years ago. It is nothing new.
Justin Kearney
Guest
That’s optimistic. Last weekend all 4 games got only just over 200000 between them.
Hummingbird
Guest
RL Nines is a knee jerk reaction to RU Sevens - so what. Played once a year in Auckland for 3? years AFLX is a good pre-season hitout without much contact and a springboard for the game in NSW/Qld where rectangular fields dominate.
Hummingbird
Guest
Yeah as you would expect in the second year but still over 200K nationally on the minor channel at bad TV times. They were at stratospheric levels and they are up against basketball , A league, Cricket ,RL and RU Sevens/tens
McNaulty
Guest
Yep, invite the Bears in. In terms of representation in Western Sydney the NRL, or better still RL women forcing the NRLs hand, should just create a brand new club out there. Give it a name chosen by women, get sponsorship from a bank or university or something. Maybe the clubs that have put in bids could help fund it. Just get it done, then cut the deadbeat western sydney clubs out of the future bids. I am furious at my idiot club Parramatta.
Justin Kearney
Guest
tv ratings have fallen through the floor mate.
GoGWS
Roar Guru
AFLW fading into obscurity?...what do you base that claim on? Seems pretty similar crowds and interest as last season. The second round Fremantle v Collingwood AFLW had a crowd of 41K - how many NRL club games will achieve that in 2018? And they had 20K at the opening game. AFLW fading into obscurity ... whatever you say.
Big Daddy
Guest
Realistically with a national women's comp the player's were only going to come from NSW and Qld and some of those clubs would not commit to it probably mainly because of finance. Could you imagine locating a women's team in Perth with young girls from the eastern states. It would be hard enough for the men to do it let alone women. The NRL really didn't think this through and it's okay to float the idea buts who going to finance it. That's one thing they didn't disclose.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
You are so right. It would be good to see new teams and not just from the Sydey region. Manly should have stayed at the central coast and the Dragons at the 'Gong. A secon Brisbane side, one from Perth even look at the Rams. On the Nines, get away from the same NRL sides. Make it an open tournament for interstate, country and international teams. It will work. Look at the Kiama 7s in union, t5his year will be its 46th year where about 40 odd teams take part. No reason why league can't do something similar.
Your kidding
Guest
A big club like Parramatta won't commit to 500 grand to set up a woman's team in prime rugby league heartland of western Sydney. And a lot of people on this site want expansion at all costs! You can see what the game is up against. The Offsiders tv show just gave the NRL a good spray over this. Although they had a good dig at all sports today.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Doesn't suit the narrative .
Big Daddy
Guest
It appears that way. Maybe we could have mens netball team.
jamesb
Guest
Spot on.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
I don't think that mate , girls a getting brow beaten constantly that they need to be more like men , have successful careers and to be ashamed of their femininity. For a girl to say shes happy to stay at home and care for the kids is frowned upon , as though she's subservient. Woman's league will always be a third or fourth tier comp , but the media will have us believe it's comparable to the men's , and the clubs will be made to feel obligated to keep funding.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
There would appear to be an obsession with Women playing every sport men play and an obligation to pour tons of coin into to make it work . Can't we just let girls be girls and boys be boys FFS.
Big Daddy
Guest
The NRL will soon need to pull their finger. In general context of women's sport they are falling behind. We have national comps in soccer and AFL and although union don't they have a pretty good profile with sevens. Even basketball and netball have national comps which are free to air. I think the problem is that all those sports I have mentioned are well established except AFL and are more appealing to young girls who have a certain amount of athleticism. Women's rugby league I think suffers a little bit from bad press in mens game. Bottom line is that most mothers want their girls playing a game that is fairly established. Women's basketball,netball and soccer has been around for a long time and it's hard to drag them away from that.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
AFLW is a kneejerk reaction to Womens Rugby 7's Gold AFLX is a knnejerk reaction to T20, 7's and 9's
RandyM
Guest
Ideally woman would invent their own sports/games that cater to the strengths of women. Anyway its not the society we live in and women think they have to be like men to succeed.
KiwiBear
Guest
@ Big Daddy Did you ever stop to think that the reason that people lose interest is that it is too much of the same thing? People want expansion because they want to see more teams and new teams. I reckon if you were to bring back the nines but make it a broader tournament people will watch and attend. For a start get the Bears, the Jets involved and the Qld ISP teams. Then invite some English Super league and NZ domestic teams to participate.