NRL CEO Andrew Abdo concedes the code has a long way to go in closing rugby league's gender equity gap but has vowed to improve female inclusion across all levels of the game.
They're the game-breakers and point of difference who could split NSW and Queensland in women's State of Origin on Friday night in a game where winner takes all in 2021.
Ali Brigginshaw has fired a barb at NSW leading into the Women s State of Origin on June 25 with the Dally M Medallist suggesting Queensland has the stronger club competition.
Brigginshaw s Valleys Diehards fell short of claiming the BHP Premiership over Burleigh last weekend with Maroons teammate Tamika Upton scoring the match-winner with four minutes remaining.
However, it was Brigginshaw s words post-match which drew the attention of those south of the border, when talking to the crowd at the presentation.
The 31-year-old declared the eight-team, seven-round competition in Queensland offered more to players than the Harvey Norman NSW Premiership.
All NSW players in the Origin side except Millie Boyle, who is based in Queensland, play their club footy in the NSW state competition.
The Canberra Raiders have kicked off plans to field a team in the NRL Telstra Women's Premiership in 2022 or 2023 after raising over $120,000 at an NRLW fundraiser dinner on Tuesday night.
The Harvey Norman National Championships was deemed an overwhelming success in Redcliffe last week but it is the players and strength and conditioning coaches across Australia who will particularly benefit in the long term.