Opinion
The regular season is over and the four best NRLW teams – Newcastle Knights, Sydney Roosters, Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans – will battle it out for the trophy.
And while I’ve enjoyed an expanded competition and seeing some new talent emerge, it’s clear to me that any further moves to add teams to the competition should be put on the backburner.
Two weeks ago, the NRL began seeking expressions of interest from the NRL clubs about entering the NRLW with officials hinting that expansion might come as soon as 2024.
The NRL asked clubs to nominate when they would be interested in entering the competition. This week Canterbury put in their bid, however it was unclear when the Bulldogs were proposing to enter the competition.
Whatever grand plans the NRL has about expansion, it’s important to listen to the most important stakeholders, the players, their coaches and the people involved in delivering the women’s programs at the clubs.
Players have expressed concern about depth and injuries. In an AAP survey conducted with all 10 NRLW coaches, seven out of 10 coaches were against any expansion in 2024. One coach did not have a strong opinion either way and another was pro expansion should the next expansion team be the New Zealand Warriors.
Despite the expansion this year, I don’t think the quality of the competition has suffered. Where challenges have emerged is when injury and suspension to key players happens because the difference between your top ranked player and your 30th player is much wider than in the NRL.
The Parramatta Eels were deeply challenged without Rachael Pearson and Elsie Albert in the first three weeks (Albert returned for 29 minutes before suffering a season-ending injury). The Eels then lost Kennedy Cherrington to suspension and did not have the depth to cover the loss.
The Wests Tigers were in a similar position with injuries to Kezie Apps, Sarah Togatuki and Botille Vette-Welsh impacting their season.
Even a team in the top four like the Roosters was tested for depth and signed their strength and conditioning coach, Millicent Scutt to a contract last week.
We’ve also seen increased blowout scores as the season has progressed, with the Sharks becoming the first team to score 50 points against their opposition on the weekend.
We also have to be careful now too, with 60 per cent of players now contracted to multi-year deals any new teams would likely be depending on new talent and even in this year’s competition there was a clear distinction between players with that established talent versus new and emerging talent.
I’m hopeful that the earliest we see expansion is 2025. Anything earlier would be to the detriment of the players and the competition.
In big news for the Knights Jesse Southwell has been cleared to play after suffering a cork in the first half last week against the Wests Tigers and Georgia Roche returns to the halves after being rested last week.
The last time these two teams met was in Round 5, where the Knights won by just two points. But the Broncos have not beaten the Knights since 2021.
The Knights enter this game as rightful favourites. They have consistently been the best team all year, but the Broncos have really grown into this season. With several new players joining the club this year, it took a while for combinations to form, but players like Mele Hufunga, Shenae Ciesolka and Julia Robinson have been try scoring machines, each scoring two tries against the Dragons.
I’m expecting this one to be a high scoring contest with the Broncos scoring over 20 points in their last seven games.
Newcastle will look to win the game in the middle through their forwards like Sheridan Gallagher and Caitlin Johnston before giving Tamika Upton room to move.
The Broncos have been able to utilise their backline well this season and will look to spread the ball early and quickly.
I’m also looking forward to the contest between Ali Brigginshaw and Southwell.
Prediction: Broncos by 2
It’s really unfortunate that neither team is at full strength for this game.
The Roosters do welcome back Millie Boyle and Keeley Davis. Jessica Sergis is still in the reserves.
For the Titans, Tahliah Fuimaono is on the reserves and Emily Bass is in the extended squad.
Even without some of their key players, the Roosters have been steamrolling their opposition, scoring over 20 points in their last seven games. The last time these two teams met, the Roosters won by 30 points to 8. The Titans have been most improved this year, with Lauren Brown’s cool approach under pressure getting the Titans across the line in several key matches.
The battle that I am most looking forward to on the field is between Shannon Mato and Millie Boyle. Mato has been immense for the Titans this season and if they are to challenge the Roosters in the game she will need to work hard to win the forward battle.
It will also be a big test for Chantay Kiria-Ratu, the young five eighth who is coming up against Tarryn Aiken, who is having one of her best ever seasons.
Prediction: Roosters by 4
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