It might be the off-season, but there is plenty happening behind the scenes for NRLW 2023.
After playing two seasons in 2022, the competition will return to the traditional mid-year timing again in 2023, with the Titans preparing for their third tilt at the NRLW competition.
Titans director of female rugby league, Karyn Murphy, gives an update on what is currently going on behind the scenes in regards to the club's women's program.
When can we expect the 2023 draw?
MUPRHY: All of the NRLW clubs are speaking with the NRL. We are all in the same boat waiting for the draw to come out, but more importantly to find out when we can start contracting girls. We haven't been able to do that yet during the off-season. So year we are waiting for the draw to see when the season will start next year.
What will the makeup of the 2023 side look like?
MURPHY: At the moment we aren't able to contract, so we haven't been given the contracting or salary cap model yet, that's still being worked through. The way it is in the NRLW is that it is year-on-year contracting so all the girls are off contract and able to be recruited.
How are you planning, given you are unable to recruit as yet?
MURPHY: Without being able to recruit girls, we are still planning on what our NRLW side will look like next year. We are working really hard with our local clubs and their coaches and the girls that are going to be coming through the state league system and the QRL to make sure we keep as many local girls on the Gold Coast as possible.
What work is being done in regards to the Titans Future Female Academy?
MURPHY: We'll have under 17 and under 19 players start on Sunday 4th December with some testing and induction and then they'll have a trial game against the Knights in Coffs Harbour on Saturday 21st January.
So that will be exciting for those girls that will be in that system and that will lead into their Harvey Norman under 19 competition locally. We will pick a number of girls out of that program that we want to work with closely on an individual and small group focus to further develop them.
We'll look at those players being on an NRLW development contract next year.
We want to bring them into the Titans system and with those girls we want to bring them in and show them the Titans way from an early age and as well as the on-field training there will be some off-field education for those girls as well.
