The National Rugby League’s "desire to have a geographical spread in the upcoming women’s competition could be under threat," with nearly half of the competition "set to sit out of the bidding process," according to Arnold & Bollen of the Brisbane COURIER-MAIL. Applications to have a women’s team in the first female NRL competition are due this Friday after the deadline was extended, "but a strong Queensland presence seems unlikely." At least five teams will reportedly not bid for licenses, including the Cowboys, Titans and Raiders, while the Storm are “unlikely." All four clubs "sit outside the New South Wales bubble," with the Broncos the only non-Sydney team to confirm it "will put in a bid by the end of the week." This lack of interest from non-Sydney clubs "will fly in the face of what the NRL wanted from the women’s competition." Aside from the Broncos, only the Sharks, Rabbitohs, Roosters and Dragons "were able to confirm they will put in bids," while Manly and Penrith "ruled themselves out" (COURIER-MAIL, 2/12).
