The kick-off to the 2025 NRLW season is just two sleeps away. From humble beginnings in 2018 with a competition featuring just four teams, the growth in the NRLW has been significant.

We go into 2025 looking forward to an 11-round season (excluding finals) featuring 12 teams.

So what can we expect in season 2025?

With the addition of the Canterbury Bulldogs and the return of the New Zealand Warriors, this year marks the first time the NRLW will feature a top-six finals system.

The teams best positioned to thrive in this expanded structure are the ones with not just the star power, but the depth and resilience to go the distance.

What will help all teams is the alignment of the state-based competitions to the NRLW so that means that there will effectively be a reserve grade that teams can call upon if there are injuries.

The following teams make my top six, in no particular order.

As always, the Sydney Roosters come into the season stacked with talent. The reigning Premiers have at least 10 players who have represented state or country with the best player in the game, Olivia Kernick leading the way.

Millie Elliott will miss this season as she looks to grow her family, but I’m not concerned that given that the Roosters still have players like Otesa Pule, Rima Butler and Amber Hall to lead from the front. I’m looking forward to a big season from Jayme Fressard following her Origin debut and am predicting that the Roosters make the GF.

But who will they play? Also in my top six and the grand final are the Brisbane Broncos.

The Broncos took a couple of rounds to get into the swing of things last year before powering their way through to Finals. The addition of Tamika Upton will go a long way and I’m looking forward to watching Gayle Broughton continue to develop in the halves.

My big question mark is over Ali Brigginshaw and seeing the type of role that she plays this season. I assume we will see her as lock but how Brigginshaw manages this next stage in her career will be an important question for the Broncos to answer.

The Knights look a little different this year with Hannah Southwell and Upton departing the club. But, they have recruited well with Botille Vette-Welsh joining to take up the fullback position.

The Knights still have plenty of talent like Jesse Southwell and Olivia Higgins and I’m looking forward to watching Yasmin Clydesdale’s development go to the next level after being announced captain.

My most improved team last year was the Parramatta Eels. After many wrote them off, they performed admirably and I look forward to watching the team take the next step this year led by Mahalia Murphy, Abbi Church (fresh off her SOO debut), Rachael Pearson and Kennedy Cherrington.

I’m excited to see Paige Travis, recruited from the UK in her first season of NRLW and players like Lindsay Tui, Boss Kapua and Chloe Jackson will be worth keeping an eye on.

Rounding out my top six are the Gold Coast Titans and the Canberra Raiders. My only concern with the Titans is how Jessika Elliston will fare up front without her partner in crime, Shannon Mato. Once the Titans work this out, talent like Lauren Brown, Jaime Chapman, Georgia Hale and Sienna Lofipo will help them make their way to the top of the table.

While the Bulldogs don’t make my top six, I am expecting a strong season from them given the Bulldogs strong focus on the female pathway for several years now. This might be a new team but it features many women who have had the chance to play together before.

As for the other end of the table, this is always extremely difficult in the NRLW. There is still quite a bit of turnover across the board and you never know which team is going to uncover the next big talent, players like Rory Owens in the 2024 season.

I must say I am worried about the North Queensland Cowboys. Their season will involve a lot of travel and they are dependent on the next generation of players coming through the ranks. Kirra Dibb, Jakiya Whitfeld and Emma Manzelmann are all talented, but I worry the Cowboys may not have as much depth as the other teams and may struggle against some of the more experienced teams in the competition.

The 2025 season won’t just be about who wins the trophy. It’ll be about the next wave of stars stepping into the spotlight. Players like Otesa Pule, Lindsay Tui, and Skyla Adams aren’t just the future, we get to watch them right now.

The fans also benefit from more games, more double headers and more chances for the next generation watch women play rugby league on the biggest stage.

The only thing more exciting than where the NRLW has been, is where it’s going next; and I can’t wait.