Cameron Smith backs the NRL women's premiership to be capable of soon developing into a stand-alone competition.
The Sydney Roosters and Warriors begin a new era in the women's game on Saturday when they face off in the inaugural match, then Brisbane host St George Illawarra on Sunday.
The four-team competition will run throughout the finals series in double-headers with men's matches before the decider is played on NRL grand final day on September 30.
Smith has seen the AFL equivalent grow in its two years in Melbourne, where the competition is played in February and March before the men's season.
And he sees no reason why the NRL's version can't go down the same path.
"It's been successful in the AFL competition so I think in the near future we'll see a women's stand-alone competition," Smith said.
"It's been very successful down there.
"We've seen the interstate matches the women have played and I've seen first hand with the Jillaroos that they provide a lot of entertainment for the crowd."
Smith's comments come after the NRL made the move to play this year's inaugural women's State of Origin as a stand-alone fixture at North Sydney Oval on the Friday night of the representative weekend.
It drew a crowd of almost 7000, while more than a million watched the match on TV.
The NRL will assess the nature and size of the inaugural club competition after this year's season, which also includes women's international fixtures.
The league also has to work around club and domestic competitions in different regions across the year.
Share
