In 2016, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and St. George Illawarra Dragons contested a Women's Nine's match, which served as a curtain-raiser to the NRL match between the Sharks and Sydney Roosters, at Southern Cross Group Stadium. The Sharks won the match 16–12. In March 2017, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks played another Women's Nine's match, this time defeating the Canberra Raiders by 28–10.
Establishment
On 6 December 2017, shortly after the conclusion of the 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup, which concluded with the Jillaroos defeating the New Zealand Ferns by 23–16 in the final, it was announced by the National Rugby League that the inaugural NRL Women's season would operate in a round-robin format, and be held in August 2018, towards the back end of the men's season, with some matches to be played as curtain-raisers to NRL finals matches. The Grand Final, which will be contested between the top two teams at the end of the round robin stage, will be played on the same day as the men's Grand Final. It was also announced that a stand-alone State of Origin match would also be contested in the representative weekend, in June. The Newcastle Knights, St. George Illawarra Dragons, Brisbane Broncos, New Zealand Warriors, Sydney Roosters, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks all declared their interest in applying for a licence to participate in the inaugural NRL Women's competition. Other clubs, such as the Melbourne Storm, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Gold Coast Titans, Canberra Raiders, Wests Tigers, Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, all decided to delay bidding until at least the next season, citing money and time constraints. On 27 March 2018, the National Rugby League announced that the Brisbane Broncos, New Zealand Warriors, St. George Illawarra Dragons and Sydney Roosters had won bids to participate in the inaugural NRL Women's competition, to commence in September 2018.
Clubs
NRL Women's operates on a single table system, with no divisions, conferences nor promotion and relegation from other leagues. The competition's 4 teams are based across 2 states of Australia and 1 region in New Zealand.
Current clubs
Players
The club's playing lists were constructed from scratch through the later stages of 2018. All participants in the 2018 season were required to be over the age of 17. Initially, clubs were asked to nominate a list of desired players, with the NRL assigning two of these "marquee" players to each club. In addition, clubs were able to sign a number of players with existing connections to the club, or with arrangements for club sponsored work or study.
Salary
NRL Women's Premiership hands contracts to 40 elite women players.
Season structure
Pre-season
Prior to the commencement of the home-and-away season teams are paired off to play an exhibition trial match.
Premiership season
The season operates using a Round-robin format, with the top two finishing teams to contest the Grand Final which is to be held on the same day as the men's NRL Grand Final. The draw is structured around the men's finals series. The rules and regulations are mostly the same as in the men's game, with a few exceptions:
matches are sixty minutes long, with thirty minutes in each half;
ten interchanges in each match, with an additional two during golden point; and
a 40/30 kick advantage providing for tactical kicking and unpredictability during matches.
Postseason
In October 2018, NRL announced the inaugural edition of Rugby League World Cup 9s in Western Sydney on 18–19 October 2019, featuring 12 international men's teams and 4 women's teams. This would be around one month after the Women's Grand Final and preseason tournament Auckland Nines in previous years was replaced.
Premiership winners
Awards
The following major individual awards and accolades are presented each season:
Best & Fairest Trophy – to the best and fairest player in the league, voted by the referees
Leading Try Award – to the player who scores the most tries during the home-and-away season
Rookie of the Year –
Veronica White Medal –
Karyn Murphy Medal – the best player on the ground in the Grand Final, voted by a committee of media members
Media coverage
Television
In its inaugural season all matches will be televised live by affiliate partners the Nine Network and Fox League.
Online
The official internet/mobile broadcast partner of the NRL is 9Now and BigPond, part of Telstra. The company hosts the league website as well as those of each of the four participation clubs. The NRL has retained digital broadcast rights to matches in the league's inaugural season and will stream all matches live and free on the league website and mobile app. Outside Australia, the inaugural season is available on .
Corporate relations
Sponsorship
is the league's current and inaugural naming rights partner. All playing and training equipment as well as all licensed apparel and hats for the league's four clubs are manufactured by Nike. Other league sponsors include Rebel Sport, Harvey Norman and Kellogg's. The official ball supplier is Steeden.
Merchandising
Official match day attire together with other club merchandise is sold through the NRL's stores and website as well through the clubs and through some retailers.
