Leeds Rhinos’ head coach Lois Forsell ready for landmark year for women’s rugby league | Rugby League News

With excitement building for the return of the Women’s Super League, Leeds Rhinos head coach Lois Forsell is ready for her team to make their mark again.

The Rhinos enter the competition as defending champions and, after an incredible winter for women’s Rugby League, Forsell is ready to keep her game growing and start by using her World Cup success to her advantage.

Post-World Cup fever: Capitalizing on the tournament’s success

The Rugby League World Cup to remember brought the women’s game into the international spotlight, with viewing figures reaching into the millions and record attendances putting the tournament firmly on the map.

“I’m sure there are young girls in the crowd who have been inspired who will go on to play and beat the Aussies and the Kiwis.”

Jodie Cunningham

British stars such as Jodie Cunningham, Emily Rudge, Tara-Jane Stanley and Amy Hardcastle inspired the next generation of players with a quick run to the semi-finals and will now look to keep fans engaged when the 2023 season begins.

“It’s just about getting more people to watch the game,” Forsell said.

“The figures we’ve seen are incredible for the World Cup and it’s great to see people fit.

“I hope that if we get a bigger game we will see if the attendance can increase again and then it’s just up to the clubs how we can get more people in the venue and how we can attract people to the game.

“Improving the commercial viability of the sport is key and is the next step for the women’s game, so we just need to see more people come to watch it.”

path to professionalism | Paying players is a ‘step in the right direction’

While women playing in the Women’s Super League have trained at ‘professional’ level, all have not been paid for their efforts, with Leeds Rhinos and York Valkyrie becoming the first clubs to start paying their players in 2023.

After England’s World Cup heartbreak against New Zealand, an emotional Cunningham continued to plead for professionalism in women’s rugby league as the answer.

Jodie Cunningham believes the future of England’s women’s Rugby League lies in the path to professionalism

“We’ve clearly closed the gap and I’m confident that on another day we’ll beat New Zealand,” Cunningham said.

“We have worked hard without being professional and I still think we have the ability to do without it.

“But you can’t avoid the difference it would make if we were semi-professional or professional players, because we would have the time and the resources and the ability to invest, and the appeal to young girls.

“It should be a sport, and I hope people can see the journey we’ve been on without professionals and can imagine how good it is.”

For Forsell, her club’s decision to start paying players is a “step in the right direction” as women’s rugby league continues to grow.

“They all play sports because they want to be part of a team, the most important thing, and because they enjoy it,” added Forsell.

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Watch Leeds Rhinos lift the Betfred Women’s Super League trophy.

“I think the most important theme is that girls play because they love it and that shouldn’t change. Our first aim at Leeds is to keep costs down so we don’t have to pay girls to play.

“Paying the players is a step in the right direction because ultimately we want to make it professional and we want to make it an interesting sport and to do that you need the best performance on the field.

“To achieve that, on a par with other sports such as rugby union and football, girls need to move into a more inclusive environment.

“This year, the payment of players will not change lives, but it is the right step in how to make the game more commercially viable and how to make a full-time arena for girls an option.

“I hope this is a good bonus and they can see that this step is a bigger picture in the framework and the direction that we are as a club, and hopefully all the games we want to continue.”

What to expect in 2023 | Can Rhinos come back?

As reigning champions, Forsell’s Leeds side know they will have hope on their shoulders as the campaign gets under way with a Grand Final replay against York Valkyrie, who like St Helens will also be looking to defend the title.

The match at the Totally Wicked Stadium saw the Rhinos clinch their second BWSL title with a 12-4 win over newly-named Valkyrie and promises to be another fierce encounter when the teams meet on Sunday 9 April.

While Forsell is excited for the showdown, he is more focused on making sure his side play with grit, determination and pride.

“We just want to keep building. We’ve got the Grand Final and we can achieve that, so we have to focus on the prize at stake.

“I think you can’t look too far ahead because everyone involved in this competition wants to win.

“We will try and be the best version of ourselves in every game.

“They will see honest and gritty performances. They will see girls who are not afraid to put themselves out there and have good skills.

“Hopefully they will see a team they want to play at every opportunity and will play with pride for who they play for.”

Sky Sports is home to three Super League Grand Finals in 2023. The Men’s Grand Final, Women’s Grand Final and Wheelchair Grand Final will all be shown on Sky Sports next season. The new Super League season begins on April 9.