'We wouldn't need that': Blues guns reignite NRLW expansion calls following epic Origin camp
Two NSW Blues stars have reignited discussion around the expansion of the NRLW season ahead of the State of Origin series opener at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
While the men's series takes place slap-bang in the middle of the NRL season, the women's game will commence nearly seven months since the last NRLW clash, and exactly nine weeks before the next one.
New Blues coach John Strange has put his troops through a six-week pre-Origin camp, but debutant Ellie Johnston said an expanded regular season – as well as a later start to the Origin series – would make for a better product.
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"Our off-season is so long, and us as individuals have to do our own training, our own running programs ... which is hard to do for five or six months," the 24-year-old told media on Monday morning.
Ellie Johnston will make her Origin debut on Thursday night. Getty
The 2025 NRLW season is starting two weeks earlier than last year and will be contested over 11 rounds instead of nine as the competition grows from 10 to 12 teams.
The Warriors are returning to the competition after the COVID pandemic forced a three-year hiatus, while the Bulldogs will also enter a team for the first time.
Each team will play each other once.
Moved to the Thursday night before the NRL's Magic Round, last year's Women's Origin series opener drew a record crowd at Suncorp Stadium.
But Johnston said playing the Origin series during the NRLW season would strengthen the three-match product.
"It could be played after we've got a couple of games under our belt, to make the games even stronger," the Sharks forward said.
Watch the 2025 Women's State of Origin series live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Jamie Chapman has also thrown her support behind an expanded NRLW season. NRL Images
"We've had a good six-week pre-season which has got us ready, but if we were playing we wouldn't (need) that.
"(We would) be playing and go straight into Origin. Pushing it back would be better (for the product)."
Blues teammate Jamie Chapman echoed the sentiment. She said an expanded NRLW season would mean the players would "not have to work a second job".
Johnston is one of four debutants in Strange's first squad, named alongside Abbi Church (Eels), Jayme Fressard (Roosters) and Jocelyn Kelleher (Roosters).
Kennedy Cherrington (Eels), Shaylee Bent (Titans), Jesse Southwell (Knights) and Kirra Dibb (Cowboys) have all returned to the side after missing out in 2024, although Dibb was named in the extended squad last year.
The Maroons fought back from 1-0 down to win the 2024 series 2-1.
