Nine’s Wide World of Sports has announced that every game of the 2023 NRLW season will be broadcast live and free on the 9Network in high definition, in a landmark investment in the growth of women’s rugby league.
The expanded 48-game NRLW season is set to kick off on Saturday, July 22, with the women’s game being showcased on the platform with the largest reach in the country.
The NRLW broadcast schedule highlights include every NRLW game being available live and free on 9Now and 9Network, a dedicated weekly women’s rugby league show called NRLWrap on Channel 9 and 9Now, and an increase in games from 18 to 48 in 2023.
Four new teams will be joining the NRLW competition from the Cronulla Sharks, Canberra Raiders, North Queensland Cowboys and Wests Tigers, across an 11-week season featuring four Saturday triple-headers, regular Sunday double-headers leading into NRL Sunday Footy, three prime-time games on Channel 9HD, and two stand-alone Thursday night games during the 2023 NRL finals series.
From the first week of August, nine weekly free-to-air games across the NRL and NRLW will be available, and the NRLW commentary team will feature former Jillaroos Ruan Sims and Allana Ferguson, hosts Emma Lawrence and Danika Mason, and defending NRLW premiership captain Millie Boyle.
NRL CEO, Andrew Abdo, said:
“In 2023, there will be new rivalries and new timeslots with every match being broadcast on the 9Network nationally and primetime coverage for the first time ever.”
Head of Partnerships and Strategy at Nine’s Wide World of Sports, Simon Fordham, said:
“In partnership with the NRL we are dedicated to growing the women’s game, and what better way to do that than making every game of the NRLW available live and free to existing and new fans across the country.
“The new broadcast agreement for the expanding NRLW competition required all stakeholders to unite and make decisions based on the growth of the sport. We look forward to showcasing the talents of these incredibly gifted athletes on Nine in what has become the most entertaining women’s football code in the nation.”
