The countdown to the 2026 Telstra Women’s Premiership season is on, with the competition officially launched today at a special media event in Sydney.
Parramatta Eels captain Mahalia Murphy proudly represented the Blue and Gold alongside the captains of the other 11 clubs, as excitement builds for another landmark year for the women's game.
Now entering its ninth season, the NRLW continues to go from strength to strength, and Murphy believes the future has never looked brighter.
"It has grown so much over the past few years," Murphy said. "The pathways are in place, participation numbers have grown and the quality of the game has grown. I'm super excited for the future of this game."
Murphy also spoke confidently about the Eels' preparations, praising the squad's commitment throughout the pre-season. "This is the best our team has felt," she said. "We've had a really good pre-season.
Everyone returned to training fit this year, so we're continuing to get fitter and stronger. The team is looking really good."
The Blue and Gold were also pleased with their recent trial performance as they put the finishing touches on their preparations.
"We had our trial against the Bulldogs last Friday, and we're really proud of what the girls are building," Murphy said.
With confidence high and momentum building, the Eels are ready to launch their 2026 campaign when they take on the Wests Tigers at CommBank Stadium on Sunday, 5 July, with kick-off scheduled for 11:50am. The game will precede the NRL Eels vs Manly at 2pm.
