At ARL we’re all about growing greatness right here in Aotearoa, and as we head into the 2024 ARL season, it’s been awesome to see that we’ve already had double the number of women register this year versus the same time last year.

Growing participation in league is a huge focus for the team at ARL. The news at the end of last week that the One NZ Warriors are bringing back the women’s side is such a positive step forward for the local game. It will certainly encourage more women to aspire to play NRLW in the future. It all starts at the grass roots level. It’s so important that our young players, female or male, have the right foundations – just like a house, if the foundations aren’t solid things can fall apart – so ensuring that our players are given the right support, coaching and pathways will increase their opportunity for success. And this starts with organisations like ARL doing their bit.

We recognise that men and women need to be coached differently, the mental and physical challenges they face are different, the demands on their lives outside of the game are different and they need different types of support to succeed in their chosen sport.  This is why we’ve just appointed our very first ARL Head of Women, Letitia Taylor and we feel incredibly excited to have her here. Letitia joins us from the Penrith Panthers and brings a wealth of experience, holding various coaching and development roles across the NRL and NSWRL. Letitia’s passion is to build the foundations and breadth of our women’s game, bespoke to their needs and from a younger age to allow our women to thrive.

While growing the women’s game is a big focus for ARL, so is ensuring that all our players have clear pathways which can help them achieve their own goals at the highest level. One of these pathways could be opened if New Zealand is successful in establishing a second New Zealand based NRL side. There are currently two bids who have put their hat in the ring for consideration from 2026 and from ARLs point of view, a second club would be pivotal for our players, coaches, and fans. We have incredible talent in Auckland, and we punch well above our weight for the size of our region. However, most elite players move overseas to accept contracts with clubs because there aren’t enough onshore opportunities for our players. 

In the past three years more than 300 Auckland players were represented in NRL pathways, most of them moving overseas to fulfil their dreams. Furthermore, from our Queensland Tour last year, 100% of our U16 males and 40% of our U17 females moved into NRL pathways – so we know we have the depth of talent. A second NRL team in NZ would stop some of our youngest players and their whānau uplifting and moving overseas. Often this happens when our players are in their early to mid-teenage years. And this is a big commitment and amount of pressure for an individual and their families. Beyond the pathways for players, a second NRL team, based in NZ will grow the competition which in turn leads to greater investment in rugby league as a game – this will flow through the entire rugby league eco-system, uplifting standards, and capabilities right across the game.

We want to keep our talent at home where they can grow their own greatness in an environment they know, with their whānau around them and where their aspirations to play at a NRL level can be realised. So, do we think the introduction of the One NZ Warriors Women’s team is a wonderful thing for the game? Absolutely. Do we think that a second NZ based NRL team would be a huge positive for the game? You bet we do.

Article added: April 9th, 2024