The 2023 NRLW Premiership was the sixth professional season of
Women's rugby league in Australia
Women's rugby league is a popular women's sports in Australia. The sport has a high level of participation in the country both recreational and professional. Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) is the national governing body of the sport in ...
. 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
The National Rugby League (NRL) is an Australasian rugby league club competition which contains clubs from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand. The NRL formed in 1998 as a joint partnership ...
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
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
11 rounds and a Finals Series from 4 February 2023 to 29 April 2023; and
**
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
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
The Women's State of Origin is an annual rugby league fixture between two Australian state representative women's sides, the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons.
First played in 1999 as the Women's Interstate Challenge, the game ...
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
The National Rugby League (NRL) is an Australasian rugby league club competition which contains clubs from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand. The NRL formed in 1998 as a joint partnership ...
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
The National Rugby League (NRL) is an Australasian rugby league club competition which contains clubs from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand. The NRL formed in 1998 as a joint partnership ...
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
The National Rugby League (NRL) is an Australasian rugby league club competition which contains clubs from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand. The NRL formed in 1998 as a joint partnership ...
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
The Rugby League Players Association is a representative organisation based in Australia. The RLPA, as it is more commonly referred to, is the representative body of elite rugby league players, protecting and promoting the welfare and interests ...
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
Tamika Upton (born 17 March 1997) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL Women's Premiership. Her position is . She previously played for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRLW, a ...
( Newcastle Knights)
Veronica White Medal:
Tahlulah Tillett
Tahlulah Tillett (born 30 August 1998) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer. Her positions are and . She previously played for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL Women's Premiership.
Background
Tillett was born in Cairns, Queen ...
( North Queensland Cowboys).
Captain of the Year:
Simaima Taufa
Simaima Taufa-Kautai (born 28 April 1994) is a rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL Women's Premiership and Mounties RLFC in the NSWRL Women's Premiership.
She is an Australian and New South Wales represe ...
( Canberra Raiders).
Coach of the Year:
Karyn Murphy ( Gold Coast Titans).
Provan-Summons Medal:
Lavinia Gould
Lavinia Gould (born 15 March 1983) is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who plays for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL Women's Premiership.
A in rugby league and a flyhalf in rugby union, she is a former New Zealand and New Zealand seven ...
( Brisbane Broncos).
Rookie of the Year:
Annessa Biddle ( Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks).
Try of the Year:
Jesse Southwell
Jesse Southwell (born 12 February 2005) is an Australian rugby league and rugby sevens footballer who currently plays for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL Women's Premiership. Her positions are and .
Background
Southwell was born in Newcastl ...
( Newcastle Knights)
vs
Sydney Roosters in Round 9.
Tackle of the Year:
Jakiya Whitfeld
Jakiya Whitfeld (born 11 June 2001) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Wests Tigers in the NRL Women's Premiership. Her position is . She previously played for the Newcastle Knights.
Background
Bo ...
( 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
Tamika Upton (born 17 March 1997) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL Women's Premiership. Her position is . She previously played for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRLW, a ...
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
The Rugby League Players Association is a representative organisation based in Australia. The RLPA, as it is more commonly referred to, is the representative body of elite rugby league players, protecting and promoting the welfare and interests ...
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
Zahara Temara (born 4 July 1997) is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Canberra Raiders in the NRL Women's Premiership and the Burleigh Bears in the QRL Women's Premiership.
She is an Australian and Queensland repres ...
( Canberra Raiders)
* August:
Tarryn Aiken ( Sydney Roosters)
Statistical Awards
Highest Point Scorer in Regular-season:
Ali Brigginshaw
Ali Brigginshaw (born 1 December 1989) is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL Women's Premiership and Valleys Diehards in the QRL Women's Premiership.
Primarily a , she is the captain of the Bron ...
( 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
Ali Brigginshaw (born 1 December 1989) is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL Women's Premiership and Valleys Diehards in the QRL Women's Premiership.
Primarily a , she is the captain of the Bron ...
** Best Forward:
Annetta Nu'uausala
Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala (born 22 January 1995) is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who plays for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL Women's Premiership.
Primarily a , she is a New Zealand representative. She previously played for the New ...
** 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
Stephanie Hancock (born 9 March 1982) is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays for the Gold Coast Titans Women in the NRL Women's Premiership.
Primarily a , she is a Queensland and Australia representative, winning two World Cups in ...
*
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
The National Rugby League (NRL) is an Australasian rugby league club competition which contains clubs from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand. The NRL formed in 1998 as a joint partnership ...
and
RLPA
The Rugby League Players Association is a representative organisation based in Australia. The RLPA, as it is more commonly referred to, is the representative body of elite rugby league players, protecting and promoting the welfare and interests ...
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