This season’s bumper NRLW ratings give players more reason to demand a bigger pay, according to the Rugby League Players Association.

New Fox Sports data has revealed their coverage of the NRLW season has increased 31 per cent compared with the previous season of 2020 (2021 was ruled out because of Covid).

The NRL announced a pay increase for the game’s top women a fortnight ago. But when negotiations start for the first collective bargaining agreement (CBA) later this year, the RLPA will be arguing for more dollars.

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“These numbers are proof of a growing fan base from previous NRLW seasons,” RLPA spokesperson Lina Caccamo said. “The players are essential to the game and the fans love them.”

History will be made on Sunday at Leichardt Oval when the league’s first semi-finals will be played. Three-time reigning premiers Brisbane face the Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra meet newcomers Gold Coast for the right to play in next week’s grand final in Redcliffe.

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The players will then turn their attention towards the CBA – notably cash in their pocket.

“We can’t wait to watch the final three games,” Caccamo said.

“And the next steps after that for the players and RLPA are securing the women’s first-ever collective bargaining agreement and ensuring we have a clear pathway to professionalism.”

This season of the NRLW has already proven to be a ratings bonanza, with an average audience of 59,000 across Kayo, Foxtel Now and Foxtel Go. The numbers are believed to be double than what some A-League games were achieving in their final days on Fox.

Last Sunday’s Round 5 clash between the Broncos and Eels at Suncorp Stadium smashed records and was the No.1-rating game across the three NRLW games with an average audience of 69,000.

The RLPA believe it’s time for the athletes to be rewarded in line with the game’s success.

The women’s game is the only major code in Australia without the agreement.

“Everyone who has tuned in has witnessed the quality of the players and how epic the games are,” Caccamo said. “The entertainment value provided by the players is unbelievable and the remote controls around the country are responding.

“Yes, there have been some challenges in the women’s game the last 18 months, but we have momentum now and we look forward to bigger and better things to come for the rest of 2022 and beyond.”

Leichhardt Oval holds special place in Dragon’s heart

-Kelsey Hogan

Shaylee Bent knows the magic of Leichhardt Oval better than most.

The St George Illawarra second-rower now hopes it will be “a good-luck-charm” when her side meets the Gold Coast Titans in Sunday’s do-or-die NRLW semi-final double-header.

“I’m a junior Tiger and I feel like I’ve had a lot of good luck playing at Leichhardt,” Bent said.

“In 2018 I played Tarsha Gale for the Tigers with my sister and our Dad coached us. I remember playing Newcastle at Leichhardt in a semi-final and it was really special for our family.

“After the Tigers I went and played for Mounties in the first year of Harvey Norman, we played South Sydney at Leichhardt in the semi-finals and they were the favourites to win but we won against them at that field.

“I also played my first Aboriginal Knockout at that ground in 2017 as well and we made it all the way to the grand final, so for me I feel like Leichhardt is a good-luck-charm.”

The 21-year-old two-time NRL Women’s Indigenous All Star said Leichhardt has “a homier feel” compared to other grounds she has played on.

“Leichardt is one of my favourite fields because the fans are so close to the field, you are not in a stadium where you are so far away from everyone, it’s got so many areas where fans can feel like they are a part of the action,” the star No.12 said.

“And I love the history behind it, the field has been there for a very long time and there’s been a lot of players play there before us.”

Up to 5000 supporters are expected to gather at the Lilyfield stadium on Sunday to watch the finals matches, starting with the Dragons v Titans from noon.

The Dragons have been one of the most consistent sides in the NRLW this season but face a Titans outfit that are coming off two strong wins and Bent, former Dragons Player of the Year, said she is prepared for “a tough game”.

“It’s do-or-die this week, we have no more chances and we’ve got to bring everything to the table because if we don’t, there’s no second shot,” she said.

“I think Titans will be eager and hungry because it’s their first year in the competition so they’ll give us their all.”

Brisbane and the Roosters will battle it out in the second semi-final from 1.45pm for a place in the decider.

The Broncos and Roosters will square off for the seventh time in NRLW history after previously meeting twice on grand final day in 2018 and 2020.

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SAS test sharpens Boyle’s mind game

-Chris Honnery

Taking on the challenge of SAS Australia and playing footy are two very different though physically-demanding tasks.

One requires passing a gruelling military-inspired course. The other requires running into a defensive line of players.

For Broncos workhorse and SAS Australia winner Millie Boyle, the correlation between the two is not physical, but mental strength.

Boyle passed the intense selection course in the recent season of the television show – filmed at the end of last year – before lining up for the Broncos in the NRLW competition.

The 23-year-old prop said the lessons learnt in SAS Australia had flowed onto the footy field.

“(I learnt to) take the opportunities when they come,” Boyle said. “We’ve only got a short (NRLW) season so you want to make the most out of every round and every game.

“A challenge like (SAS Australia) is only going to make you stronger mentally, so I guess it could have some correlation with footy.”

From the SAS selection course to the footy field, Boyle will line up for the Broncos in Sunday’s NRLW semi-final showdown against the Roosters at Leichhardt Oval following a massive season of women’s rugby league.

With three new teams and extra playing time, Boyle said the standard of play had improved with the NRLW now in its fourth season.

“It’s been great to have those extra teams so we can play a little bit more footy,” she said.

“It’s given other players a chance to play at this level.

“The game has been very entertaining and great to watch.

“The girls are getting fitter, faster and stronger as well.

“The standard has definitely gone to another level and it will no doubt go to another level again at the end of the year and when it expands to more teams next year.

“You definitely notice it out there but I think it’s great that the new teams who have joined the comp have been really competitive.”

This season of the NRLW has been a ratings bonanza, with an average audience of 59,000 across Kayo, Foxtel Now and Foxtel Go.

And Sunday’s semi-final showdown is set to be another must-watch with each club battling for a spot in next weekend’s grand final.

The minor premiership-winning Broncos will face the fourth-placed Roosters and Boyle admitted they were wary of their opposition’s strike power, set to be unleashed this weekend.

“A loss now for anyone means they’re out, so everyone is going to be playing with everything they’ve got,” she said. “There’s no point looking to the grand final next week if you can’t get the job done this weekend.

“Roosters are an amazing team, especially on paper. They’re playing for everything this weekend but we’re ready for that. We’ve got some players back who are ready to take it to another level.”

NRLW SEM-FINALS

DRAGONS v TITANS

Sunday, 12.00pm, Leichhardt Oval

DRAGONS

1. Emma Tonegato, 2. Teagan Berry, 3. Jaime Chapman, 4. Paige McGregor, 5. Madison Bartlett, 6. Taliah Fuimaono, 7. Rachael Pearson, 8. Elsie Albert, 9. Keeley Davis, 10. Kezie Apps, 11. Talei Holmes, 12. Shaylee Bent, 13. Holli Wheeler

Bench: 14. Quincy Dodd, 15. Kody House, 16. Tegan Dymock, 17. Janelle Williams

Reserves: 18. Renee Targett, 19. Keele Browne, 20. Shellie Long, 21. Aliti Namoce-Sagano, 22. Alexandra Sulusi, 23. Matilda Power, 24. Chantel Tugaga

TITANS

1. Jetaya Faifua, 2. Karina Brown, 3. Jasmine Peters, 4. Shaniah Power, 5. Hailee-Jay Maunsell, 6. Grace Griffin, 7. Kimiora Breayley-Nati, 8. Brianna Clark, 9. Brittany Breayley-Nati, 10. Stephanie Hancock, 11. Tiana Raftstrand-Smith, 12. Tazmin Gray, 13. Destiny Brill

Bench: 14. Georgia Hale, 15. Jessika Elliston, 16. Laikha Clarke, 19. April Ngatupuna

Reserves: 18. Cobie-Jane Morgan, 20. Karli Hansen, 21. Zara Canfield, 22. Evania Pelite, 23. Lauren Dam, 24. Lauren Moss

BRONCOS v ROOSTERS

Sunday, 1.45pm, Leichhardt Oval

BRONCOS

1. Tamika Upton, 2. Julia Robinson, 3. Amy Turner, 4. Shenae Ciesiolka, 5. Emily Bass, 6. Tarryn Aiken, 7. Ali Brigginshaw, 8. Millie Boyle, 9. Lauren Brown, 10. Chelsea Lenarduzzi, 11. Kaitlyn Phillips, 12. Amber Hall, 13. Lavinia Gould

Bench: 14. Hayley Maddick, 15. Tallisha Harden, 16. Roxette Murdoch, 17. Sara Sautia

Reserves: 18. Jada Ferguson, 19. Hagiga Mosby, 20. China Polata, 21. Toni Hunt, 22. Jessikah Reeves, 24. Lesa Kaleti Mata’afa

ROOSTERS

1. Corban Baxter, 2. Leianne Tufuga, 3. Jessica Sergis, 4. Isabelle Kelly, 5. Brydie Parker, 6. Zhara Temara, 7. Raecene McGregor, 8. Sarah Togatuki, 9. Olivia Higgins, 10. Mya Hill-Moana, 11. Yasmin Meakes, 12. Olivia Kernick, 13. Hannah Southwell

Bench: 14. Jocelyn Kelleher, 15. Keilee Joseph, 16. Tayla Predebon, 17. Simone Karpani

Reserves: 18. Joeli Morris, 19. Kalosipani Hopoate, 20. Lauretta Leao-Seve, 21. Otesa Pule, 22. Shawden Burton, 23. Taylor-Adeline Mapusua, 24. Taneka Todhunter