Latest news with #NRLWGrandFinal
West Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
GEORGIE PARKER: AFLW should mimic NRLW State of Origin with a Australia-Ireland game in season build-up
In the new frontier of women's professional sports, the AFL still has a lot to learn from the NRL — and its AFLW fixture for the upcoming season isn't getting it any closer to being the head of the class The NRL and AFL are like Melbourne and Sydney — two cities always bickering to everyone and anyone who will listen about who is better, even though both are major players in their own right. The AFL can truly claim to be a national sport and boasts much better crowd numbers, but the NRL holds its own with broadcast figures, especially in its women's competition. The NRLW State of Origin series has drawn a lot of eyeballs, with nearly two million people watching NSW claim the series over Queensland two weeks ago. Then, last week, two million people watched the dead rubber match — something the AFLW could only dream of. The AFLW's biggest match of the year last season, the grand final, attracted 354,000 viewers. The NRLW Grand Final, played as a curtain-raiser to the men's decider, drew nearly 700,000 viewers. The NRLW has a few advantages over the AFLW. The game itself, while tough, is simpler at its core, so the contrast between the men's and women's playing styles isn't as stark. The season is shorter, with the NRL holding back on rapid expansion, which has created more depth across the 12 teams. And the biggest point of difference? State of Origin — a marquee event that highlights star players and gives fans a reason to tune in during the regular season. The AFL, however, has not nailed it with the most recent AFLW fixture update when it comes to combating the sleeping giant that is the NRLW. While it's an improvement on last season's debacle, there are still plenty of holes. Firstly, why aren't there any double-header matches during the crossover with the AFL finals? This is a prime opportunity to attract a different audience during a period when there's less men's footy being played. The NRL has already shown how well this strategy works. Secondly, why are there no matches at Marvel Stadium? Given the nature of women's footy, matches are more affected by rain — and even more so by wind — than the men's game. Using a venue like Marvel, which is shielded from the elements, seems like a no-brainer to improve the standard of play and attract fans who are still on the fence. We all know Marvel is owned and managed by the AFL, so scheduling AFLW double-headers there to create a better TV product (which is where the money is) should be in their best interest. And finally, can we replicate something like the NRLW State of Origin during the men's season to generate interest in the AFLW? Perhaps an Australia-Ireland series, similar to the old International Rules format, given the sheer number of elite Irish players in the league. Whatever the solution, something needs to change. For the amount of money being invested in the AFLW, the return on investment isn't stacking up. And I think the frustration around that investment will only grow if more innovation isn't shown.
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Why footy's most glamorous couple Jaime Chapman and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will be facing some VERY awkward moments after star recovered from breaking her spine
NRL power couple Jaime Chapman and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will be bracing for some awkward moments now that the NRLW star has been named in the Blues squad after coming back from a serious injury. Chapman, 23, was selected on the wing for NSW in the upcoming women's Origin series, which gets underway on May 1 - with her man certain to play for Queensland in the men's series, barring injury. It comes after the Titans star broke her back while playing for the Indigenous All Stars against the Maori All Stars at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta on February 15. Scans revealed Chapman had fractured her L2 vertebrae in her lower lumbar spine. 'I've never broken a bone before, so [it was a] pretty hectic one,' she told News Corp. 'It was quite painful. The way I pulled up extremely sore the next day I knew something was wrong. 'I was stressed about Origin, will I be OK for NRLW....[in the end] I was very lucky with the type of break that it was and where it was.' Off the field, Chapman has found love with Dolphins excitement machine Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. 'The Hammer' is a proud Queenslander - meaning things might get awkward at Origin time. 'It'll be pretty weird when it comes around,' Tabuai-Fidow told NITV News. 'But she's got my support.' Chapman said she will support Tabuai-Fidow when he runs out for the Maroons, despite being on opposite ends of the game's fiercest rivalry. 'I'll support him no matter what he does and no matter what team he plays for,' she said. 'I'll be going for him... but not the Maroons.' Sky Blues coach John Strange is confident he's picked the best available team for the Origin opener. 'The girls who'll be picked for Origin one, they've got to perform to keep their spots because there's exceptional players in our squad of 30 that have missed out,' Strange said. 'They understand that they've got to respect the jersey and respect the fact that they've got the night in Origin one.' Chapman was raised at Sutherland in Sydney's south before moving north to pursue her footy career. She linked up with the Broncos in 2022 then shifted to the Gold Coast, where Chapman played in the 2023 NRLW Grand Final. Her ability to find the line in clutch moments was on full display after scoring a hat-trick in the decider for the Titans - but Newcastle ran out 24-18 winners on the day.
