Super W Trans-Tasman competition is key to fending off NRLW threat, experts say
“If we can get something, even if it’s just a finals series [against New Zealand sides] Next year and 2025 we may have an expanded competition so our girls can be more competitive [2025] World Championship.
“And then in 2026 in Japan, Kiwi teams, Samoa, fold – and lead into the 2029 World Cup. Australians like winners and to really move the game forward we need to win.”
Fijiana Drua won the Super W title in 2022, her first season in competition.Credit:Getty
“At the Waratahs we have a lot of players in this top roster (Wallaroos) so we’re sure we can retain players but obviously it’s a little bit difficult. The Brumbies will be a challenge for them with the introduction of the Raiders. And obviously Melbourne fights AFLW all the time.
“It’s a constant but if we can provide decent competition that’s a motivator for people to stay and we have World Cups coming up, a World Cup at home, a chance to play in the UK… other codes don’t. I haven’t. We can never match them for money.”
New Zealand has a four-team Super Rugby Aupiki competition. The Waratahs toured New Zealand with a young side last month and lost to both the Blues and Chiefs but Aitken believes they would be competitive.
Wallaroos and Queensland captain Shannon Parry said emphasizing rugby’s international opportunities is a valuable tool.
Rhiarna Ferris of Hurricanes Poua charges forward during the second round Super Rugby Aupiki match between Matatu and Hurricanes Poua.Credit:Getty
“Long term I’d like to see a trans-Tasmanian competition, but obviously that’s a couple of years down the road. The game is now evolving at breakneck speed…that’s the challenge Rugby Australia has at the moment. How do you keep players in the game and prevent them from being poached by NRLW? Paris said.
“Rugby has something that the NRL can’t offer and that’s the international experience of making it to the top.”
With New Zealand reigning world champions and Australia a rising force, a full-blown women’s super rugby competition over Tasmania could ultimately generate broadcast revenue that in turn feeds into the game. And it could also attract more international recruits. Several Japanese and New Zealand players have already been signed to play at Super W this year.
Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos said talks with NZR about joining forces in a women’s super rugby competition had been encouraging.
Mahalia Murphy (left) left the Waratahs to return to rugby league.Credit:Getty
“The early conversations I had with (NZR CEO) Mark (Robinson) about this show that Mark is certainly interested in this crossover. It’s just a matter of whether it’s this year or next year. From our point of view, looking at our Super W and how we can expand that is certainly a big part of our strategy,” said Marinos.
“Our next step is to invest in high performance systems around it and maybe do a lap and a half or two so we have more volume and content.
“But we also have strategic partnerships with Fiji and the same with Japan and we will see if there is scope to play against some of their teams. By 2025 we would certainly like to have an improved Super W structure and a crossover with the Kiwis at some point in the season.”
Check out all the action from the Super Rugby Pacific stream ad-free, live and on-demand at every game Stan sports.
Sports news, scores and expert commentary. Sign up for our sports newsletter.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/super-w-trans-tasman-competition-the-key-to-fighting-off-nrlw-threat-say-experts-20230308-p5cqhr.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_sport Super W Trans-Tasman competition is key to fending off NRLW threat, experts say
