When the NRL moved to introduce four new teams to the NRLW for 2023, many commentators voiced fears the quality of football would drop as the competition scrambled to source new talent to fill its rosters.
But while 53 players made their NRLW debut in round one on the weekend, the matches were competitive, with two of the four expansion teams - the Sharks and Wests Tigers - winning their opening games.
The NRL's head of elite football, Graham Annesley, said the high quality of football in the opening round was proof the decision to expand the league was the correct one.
In any competition there will always be a spread of talent and...