Bulldogs and Warriors the next NRLW teams, just five clubs without women’s squads now

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the New Zealand Warriors have been given the green light to join (and re-join) the NRL Women’s Premiership in 2025, expanding the competition to 12 teams.

The 12-team expansion means just the Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, Storm, Panthers, and Dolphins will be without a team competing in the top-flight women’s competition next year.

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The Warriors were originally involved in the NRLW during its fledgling years but were forced to pull out of the league following the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit the New Zealand outfit quite hard. The NRL has since been pushing for them to rejoin the competition.

“The return of the Warriors is an important strategic boost for the women’s game in New Zealand, while the Bulldogs are adding the final step to their program after years of strong investment in the women’s game,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo explained after the 2025 expansion was announced on NRL.com on Thursday.

The expansion also means the league will expand to 11 weeks of regular season play.

The finals, however, will be staying at four teams and two weeks.

This postseason format has seen the Broncos win three times—the Brisbane club won the first three editions of the league—as well as the Sydney Roosters (once) and the Newcastle Knights (twice). The Knights are currently the reigning premiers after downing the Eels in 2022 then defending their title against the Titans in 2023.

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The next time the NRL Women’s Premiership will expand will likely be 2028, The Sporting Base understands, mainly due to collective bargaining agreements and player contract rules.