IT has taken a while, but women will soon have the same opportunity to progress to the National Rugby League as their male counterparts.
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Last week the NRL announced it would run a national round-robin competition for women. It will run in the lead-up to the 2018 NRL finals series.
Previously, women only had the opportunity to try rugby league with league tag (non-contact), which was then extended to a nine-a-side full-contact competition.
It has now progressed to the 13-a-side format, featuring the same rules and regulations as professional rugby league.
Up to six National Rugby League clubs are expected to be granted licenses.
Port City Breakers have performed strongly in both league tag and this year’s women’s nines competitions.
They won the league tag competition in 2016 and were pipped in this year’s grand final.
Jazzy Wilbow has some experience playing nine-a-side, league tag and 13-a-side formats, having played in the Koori Knockout at the start of this year.
She said it was the slow progression through the different formats that had seen more and more women play the game.
“When you sit back and watch Simone and Kylie Hilder play this new comp down in Newcastle it makes you want to play,” she said.
“So watching them and introducing this [format] a little later makes people want to play more.
“I think it was the right idea to have the nines because it gives yourself a bit of a hit-out to see what the potential is out there.
“Then when you go to the 13-a-side format it’s more like the NRL and full-on.”
Wilbow believes it can only be a positive to give females the opportunity to become involved in rugby league from grass roots level.
Former Breakers teammate Simone Smith has progressed through the 13-a-side ranks and made her Jillaroos debut.
In the long-term, Smith could be joined by other Port Macquarie players, although Wilbow was unsure what her future in the game was.
“I’m not too sure about playing for teams like the Knights some time [down the track]; it depends if my body holds up alright,” Wilbow said.
“The physical contact will be the main difference from league tag to nine-a-side to 13-a-side.
“Physically you have to warm your body up from head to toe so you’re not injured out there because you’ve got to get in there and amongst it.”
Wilbow said the benefits of the women’s NRL competition would be more than just what is seen at a professional level.
“It will make the Jillaroos even stronger in the long run as well,” she said.
