2023 NRL Women's Season

The 2023 NRLW Premiership was the sixth professional season of Women's rugby league in Australia. As announced in March 2022 by the governing body, the National Rugby League, the number of teams increased from six to ten.

The duration of the season was confirmed by the NRL in a media release on 14 February 2023 as nine rounds followed by semi-finals and a Grand Final.

Contracted players were paid for a seven-week preparation period prior to the commencement of the competition, plus two weeks leave, for a total of 20 weeks. The contract period for players was, however, twelve months. The announcement also confirmed a rise in the salary cap from $350,000 in 2022 to $900,000 in 2023.

Teams

The Line-up of teams increased from six to ten. Two of the new clubs announced in October 2022 the appointment of their NRLW coach for the 2023 season.

Scheduling

The season saw the ten teams play each other once across nine rounds, followed by a two-week final series that involved the top four teams. They played semi-finals with the winners meeting in the Grand Final.

Scheduling of the season allowed for:
* An All Stars match on 11 February 2023.
* State Competitions in which most NRLW players participated.
** New South Wales 11 rounds and a Finals Series from 4 February 2023 to 29 April 2023; and
** Queensland 7 rounds and a Finals Series from 11 March 2023 to early May 2023;
* A seven-week preparation period.
* Two weeks of leave.
* A two-match Women's State of Origin series on 1 June (Parramatta) and 22 June 2023 (Townsville).

Pre-season trial matches

Ladder

Ladder progression

*Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top four.
*Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
*Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round.

Regular season

The first announcement of the 2023 NRLW season's fixtures was released by the NRL on 27 April 2023.

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Round 8

Round 9

Notes:

Finals Series

On 25th August 2023, the NRL announced that both NRLW semi-finals will be played on Sunday, 24th September 2023, at the respective, selected home grounds of the teams that finish 1st and 2nd on the ladder. The matches will be 2nd vs 3rd and 1st vs 4th. Within two hours of full time in the last regular season match, the NRL announced the kick-off times of the semi-finals and confirmed the venues.

Grand Final

On the 24th of July 2023 the ARLC confirmed the mens and women's final will be held in Sydney on a one-year deal, while the new Minns Government continues to negotiate with the ARLC for further stadium upgrades for both NRL competitions.

Team of the week

At the conclusion of each round, the media department of the NRL announce a team of the week. Seventeen players are named.

Round 1 to Round 5

Round 6 to Semi-Finals

Team of the Year

Dally M Team of the Year

Announced on the evening of 27 September 2023.

Players' Dream Team

The Rugby League Players Association announced the 2023 Players' Dream team on 29 September 2023.

Individual Awards

Dally M Medal Awards Night

Announced on the evening of 27 September 2023

Dally M Medal Player of the Year:

Tamika Upton ( Newcastle Knights)

Veronica White Medal:

Tahlulah Tillett ( North Queensland Cowboys).

Captain of the Year:

Simaima Taufa ( Canberra Raiders).

Coach of the Year:

Karyn Murphy ( Gold Coast Titans).

Provan-Summons Medal:

Lavinia Gould ( Brisbane Broncos).

Rookie of the Year:

Annessa Biddle ( Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks).

Try of the Year:

Jesse Southwell ( Newcastle Knights)
vs Sydney Roosters in Round 9.

Tackle of the Year:

Jakiya Whitfeld ( Wests Tigers)
vs Sydney Roosters in Round 6.

Grand Final Day Awards

The following awards were presented at Olympic Park, New South Wales on Grand Final day, 1 October 2023.

Karyn Murphy Medal Player of the Match:
Tamika Upton Newcastle Knights

RLPA Players' Champion Awards

The following awards were voted for by NRLW players and announced at the end of the season.

The Players' Champion:

Teagan Berry ( St. George Illawarra Dragons)

Rookie of the Year:
Annessa Biddle ( Cronulla Sharks)

The following award, selected from five nominees, was announced at the end of the season.

Dennis Tutty Award:
Chelsea Lenarduzzi ( Brisbane Broncos)

The Rugby League Players Association announced monthly awards during the season. A panel of three former players selected five players for each month. All current players were eligible to vote for the monthly awards.
* July: Zahara Temara ( Canberra Raiders)
* August: Tarryn Aiken ( Sydney Roosters)

Statistical Awards

Highest Point Scorer in Regular-season: Ali Brigginshaw ( Brisbane Broncos) 80 (5t 30g)

Top Try Scorer in Regular-season: Teagan Berry ( St George Illawarra Dragons) 11

Club Awards

As clubs each define their own award categories there are awards that do not fit into the above categories:
* Brisbane Broncos
** Most Consistent: Mariah Denman
** Best Back: Ali Brigginshaw
** Best Forward: Annetta Nu'uausala
** Play of the Year: Mele Hufanga (Round 3 four tries v Cowboys)
* Canberra Raiders
** Junior Representative Player of the Year: Georgia Willey
* Cronulla Sharks
** Education Excellence Award: Andie Robinson
* Gold Coast Titans
** “The Preston” Award (full club award): Steph Hancock
* Newcastle Knights
** Thrive Award: Tiana Davison
** Gladiator of the Year: Yasmin Clydsdale
* Sydney Roosters
** Try of the Year: Tarryn Aiken
* Wests Tigers
** NSW Women’s Premiership Players’ Player: Ebony Prior
** NSW Women’s Premiership Player of the Year: Christian Pio
** Tarsha Gale Cup Players’ Player: Claire Kennedy
** Tarsha Gale Cup Player of the Year: Jae Patu
** Lisa Fiaola Cup Players’ Player: Lucyannah Luamanu
** Lisa Fiaola Cup Player of the Year: Angel Schaafhausen-Mino
** Woman of the Year: Danielle Sherd

Players and transfers

Player signings for the 2023 season were effectively placed on hold until an in-principle agreement between the NRL and RLPA was reached. This was announced on 14 February 2023.

The 2023 season salary cap for clubs is $900,000 and the minimum wage for contracted players is $30,000. Squad size is 24 players plus 4 development players. The official signing period commenced on 29 March 2023. Clubs are required to fill their 24-player roster by 24 May 2023.

Table last updated: 25 May 2023.

References

External links

*

{{NRL Women's Premiership

NRL Women
NRL Women