Peter V’landys, chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission, has indicated the National Rugby League (NRL) is considering staging a standalone grand final for the women’s competition starting next season. The proposed change would see the NRLW grand final held separately from the men’s event, likely positioned on the Friday or Saturday preceding the men’s decider, as part of a week-long series of celebrations.

Currently, the NRLW grand final is played as a double-header alongside the men’s grand final on the same day, a format that has been in place since 2018 and is promoted as the highlight of the rugby league calendar. Speaking at the launch of the NRLW finals on Monday, V’landys said there has been significant interest in giving the women's game its own dedicated spotlight, which could elevate its profile and audience reach.

“A lot of people have come to us and said, ‘why don’t we give the women their own spot for a grand final?’" V’landys said. “We think that having them during grand final week could lift their profile, and there’s no other sport at that particular point in time.” He expressed confidence that the standalone event would attract strong crowds and television ratings, drawing parallels with the success of women’s State of Origin matches.

The potential shift is part of broader plans V’landys outlined for the NRLW’s future, which include expansion, moves toward professionalism, and adjustments to the timing of the State of Origin series, possibly moving it from the pre-season to the regular season. These changes are expected to be addressed in the next collective bargaining agreement, scheduled from 2028.

V’landys also addressed the ongoing debate over the transition of the NRLW from a part-time to a fully professional competition. While a recent poll of club executives and chairs showed nearly 60 percent favored waiting for the women’s game to become financially self-sustaining before fully professionalising, V’landys disagreed, emphasizing the need for continued investment irrespective of immediate profitability.

“I don’t agree with waiting until the NRLW is self-sustainable. You’ve got to invest, and the more we invest, the better the outcomes,” he said. “At the moment, yes, we are subsidising the game, but I don’t see it as subsidisation, I see it as investment.”

In addition to his comments on the women’s game, V’landys expressed disappointment with attendance figures for the men’s finals opening round but noted an increase of about 9,000 spectators compared to last year. Approximately 94,000 fans attended the four matches over the weekend, up from around 85,000 during the corresponding week in 2025.

He also delivered a cautionary message to Cronulla Sharks supporters regarding the possibility of their team playing home finals at Ocean Protect Stadium, indicating there are challenges to securing a venue for future postseason matches at the facility.