Could State of Origin footy be headed back to the capital in 2024?
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Canberra successfully hosted Women's Origin in 2022 when it was a standalone game, but next year the event is set to become a three-game series, just like it is for the men.
That opens the door for the capital to once again welcome NSW and Queensland fans to Canberra Stadium for the iconic mate-versus-mate clash.
"Canberra Stadium would be a great place to host a Women's State of Origin game," ACT Sport Minister Yvette Berry told The Canberra Times.
"We meet regularly with the NRL and are always happy to discuss upcoming content for the ACT."
Last year's Origin series was played over two games in Sydney and Townsville, with Queensland lifting the Shield based on a superior for-and-against after both teams won one match.
![NSW women celebrates after winning the State of Origin shield. Picture: Keegan Carroll NSW women celebrates after winning the State of Origin shield. Picture: Keegan Carroll](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/168198572/509e7a85-26ba-4075-9ca9-24bfb2861938.jpg/r0_295_5318_3297_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
There had been extensive calls for players throughout the series to increase the contest to three games, allowing for a decider.
Those pleas have been answered, and AAP has been told a third game for the series will be announced when the draw is released next week. All matches will again be held as stand-alone fixtures separate to the men's series.
Players are also set to receive a significant financial boost out of the decision, given the $15,000 match fee for all women's Origins matches.
![NSW women line up for the anthem at Canberra Stadium. Picture by Keegan Carroll NSW women line up for the anthem at Canberra Stadium. Picture by Keegan Carroll](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/168198572/f628f342-95f2-48b0-bbb3-63bbfb04cde4.jpg/r0_268_5027_3105_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Meanwhile, the NRLW competition is set to remain at 10 clubs for another year.
NRL bosses will announce next year's men and women's draws as early as next week, with both schedules currently undergoing final tweaks.
The men's competition will begin in Las Vegas on March 2, while the NRLW will again start later in the year to allow both grand finals on the same day.
The first fixture on the rugby league calendar next year will be the All Stars match, announced to be held in Townsville on February 16, featuring women's and men's Indigenous and Maori teams.
The NRL has also taken a common-sense approach when it comes to expansion of the women's game at club level.
The league had written to the seven clubs without NRLW sides late last season to gauge a timeline on when they felt they would be ready to enter the competition.
That had prompted a suggestion the NRLW could expand to 12 teams in 2024, one year before most had expected the next growth in 2025.
That had been met with resounding opposition from current players and coaches.
Among concerns from players and coaches was that at least 60 per cent of players were already signed to deals for next year and how this would impact the quality of incoming clubs.
The NRL has now decided against expansion in the club competition for next year, with the most likely scenario remaining two new teams enter from 2025 as loosely mapped out in the collective bargaining agreement.
Further expansion is then likely again beyond that with some clubs pushing for 2026 entry.
Plans are already in place to increase the talent base for further expansion.
The NSW Rugby League is poised to move their women's premiership into the NRLW window next year, creating a proper reserve-grade competition.
A full U17s competition will also be introduced in the Lisa Fiaola Cup, mirroring the men's pathways for teenage competitions.
NRLW players will likely be given the chance to play in a NSWRL preseason club competition prior to the Origin series, while Queensland's State Cup will still operate over the first half of the year.
- With AAP
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