Women’s Rugby League World Cup shapes as tighest yet as gap closes on hosts Australia | Megan Maurice

The three-time world champion Jillaroos maintain a strong edge but their title defence may be under threat from New Zealand and England Four years is a long time in women’s sport. While men’s sport is ever evolving and growing, the speed of change in the women’s game is much fast

The three-time world champion Jillaroos maintain a strong edge but their title defence may be under threat from New Zealand and England Four years is a long time in women’s sport. While men’s sport is ever evolving and growing, the speed of change in the women’s game is much faster, as time lost when they were sidelined in professional sport at an increasingly rapid pace is made up. The last time the Rugby League World Cup was held, the women’s game was in a very different place.

The NRLW contained just six teams, playing five rounds of competition, which was positioned almost as a sideshow to the men’s finals. Since then, it has doubled in size to 12 teams and 11 rounds, getting genuine airtime across the Australian winter. Continue reading...