In the lead-up to the 2018 Rugby League season, the pathway for women and girls has been strengthened yet again with the formation of a complete NSWRL participation and elite representative system.

Following on from a successful 2017, which saw the inaugural Tarsha Gale Cup and the Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership expanded into two 13-a-side divisions, the NSWRL will implement further changes to cater for significant increases in female participation. The major additional features of the female pathway are:

Women's and girls competitions are available for under-14s, under-16s, under-18s and open-age divisions in all NSWRL districts

Girls competitions are now also available in the Penrith District for under-6s to under-12s

The Under-16s Lisa Fiaola Cup Gala Day, scheduled for 14 July, completing the junior representative pathway for girls in the age group below the Tarsha Gale Cup

Five existing NRL and Intrust Super Premiership NSW clubs will now field teams in the Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership, increasing the competition to nine teams

Named after former Harvey Norman NSW Women's and Jillaroos representative Lisa Fiaola, the under-16s gala day will give more girls than ever before a taste of junior representative Rugby League as they aim to impress before they reach the under-18s age group. The second season of the Tarsha Gale Cup will commence alongside boys' junior representative competitions on 10 February and has increased to 11 teams:

Canberra Raiders

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Cronulla Sharks

Illawarra Steelers

Newcastle Knights

Parramatta Eels

Penrith Panthers

South Sydney Rabbitohs

St George Dragons

Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy

Wests Tigers

In 2018, the open's age group has also had a revamp. The division 2 Harvey Norman NSW Women's Combined Championship will feature several of the teams competing in the top division in 2017, while several NRL, Intrust Super Premiership NSW and Ron Massey Cup franchises will now be involved in the Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership:

Cabramatta

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Brothers Penrith

South Sydney Rabbitohs

North Sydney Bears

Wentworthville Magpies

Mounties

Newcastle

Cronulla-Caringbah Sharks

A full explanation of the 2018 NSWRL Female Rugby League Pathway can be found below.