A longer NRLW season is being considered for 2021 after a directive from the ARL Commission to improve the women’s competition.

The NRLW was set for an extension this year before the COVID-19 shutdown but plans for more games are back on the table with the NRL.

On Thursday NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said the NRLW competition would look different next year and would be played at the back end of the men’s season.

Currently the NRLW coincides with the NRL finals across four weeks.

An increase from the four NRLW teams is unlikely for next season but extending the competition from three weeks to six plus a grand final is logical.

“The women’s premiership will be played at the back end of the men’s regular season but it will look different in 2021,” Abdo said.

“We are thinking of ways in which we can expand and amplify and grow this competition.”

The NRL is working through options to present to the ARLC and chairman Peter V’landys for approval.

Also on the table is increasing the women’s State of Origin from one match to three in coming seasons, however, not for 2021.

The women’s Origin match has been scheduled for a return to mid-season, along with the men’s series, although a venue is yet to be decided.

“In the off-season the commission instructed us to think about how we can invest in our female league pathway,” Abdo said.

“The NRLW is just one aspect of that.

“But what we’re seeing is high quality football and our fans want to see more of it, so thinking about how we expand the rounds and then ultimately our teams is a priority.

“It would be unrealistic to expect our clubs to prepare for the 2021 season and have an expansion on the number of teams, so it’s more likely we’ll have an expansion in the number of games.

“But the commission has asked us to look at everything, we’ll do the homework, we’ll look at the sustainability the business cases and the talent and make sure that we’re still investing in the quality of the product and our athletes who at this stage are semi professional.”