The Wallaroos will head into international competition this week better prepared than ever before, thanks mainly to the increased depth and competition in Super W.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said his opening squad of the season had been shaped largely by Super Rugby form, and so it is for the Wallaroos, who head into the opening Test of the year against Japan, in Newcastle on Saturday, with a team bursting with Super W stars.
Wallaroos forwards coach Matt Tink said the level of competition in Super W, combined with the commitment of the Super W bases to post-season training for PONI squad members had handed national coaches a group that would pose genuine selection headaches due to its depth.
"It's been tremendous. We're building greater depth this year compared to last year, we've probably got more athletic girls and more girls with rugby smarts as well," Tink said.
"We picked our PONI squad - players of national interest - based mainly on Super W form and from there, they've been working in their states and the cooperation of those state coaches, who've been executing our training plans, has put us in really good stead for these next four Tests."
The Wallaroos open their international campaign on Saturday with the first of two Tests again Japan - the other is at North Sydney Oval on July 19 - before two matches against New Zealand next month.
"Last year was the first time we ran it like that," Tink said.
"We learnt a few things and this time it's been a bit better, they've come in with a bit better understanding of how we want to play the game, but also some of those skills that we'd like them to have before they got here.
"It's a combination of Super W competition and the Super W bases as well that have been really beneficial."
While NSW continued to dominate Super W in the second season of the competition, going through undefeated to claim back-to-back premierships, Queensland continued to threaten, with their rivalry pushing both teams to greater heights.
While there were some unflattering scorelines racked up - against Melbourne in particular - the Brumbies women and Western Australia also continue to improve and push the established states, while the Rebels improvement from the start of the season to the end was significant.
Queensland halfback and Wallaroos vice-captain Cobie-Jane Morgan said with the World Cup just two years away, competition was fierce for spots in the team and she had noticed a significant increase in depth.
"(That's) in every position. Coming into this squad now, there's at least four girls contending for one spot, whether it be the no.1 jersey or the no.15," Morgan said.
And that has left selectors with a tough job ahead of Thursday's announcement of the team to face Japan.
More than just the starting XV, Tink said the just making the squad was more difficult than it had ever been, with greater depth than at any stage in the past.
"Now we're having conversations about who to leave out because they're all really fighting hard for that spot," he said.
"Obviously leading into the World Cup we're going to need that and we have to develop more."
While many women's sports are experiencing growth in an unprecedented era of professionalism, rugby's expansion even at the grassroots level has been exponential.
Tink says it has much to do with the unique opportunities on offer, especially when compared to the other rugby code.
"It's the role of the staff, it's the role of the players, it's the role of the game to provide an environment where people want to be," he said.
"There's not a hell of a lot of money in either of the (rugby) codes at the moment and people will gravitate to success and they'll gravitate to where they're happy.
"We've spoken extensively about the environment we want to create for the girls, a place they want to be, because these girls are giving up time off work, many of them are taking leave without pay and for those girls to do that, we need to ensure that we're giving them the best program possible.
"A one-off game at North Sydney Oval on TV, a State of Origin, that's tremendous.
"But the rugby league women aren't playing in a World Cup, they're not going to play against France and England and Canada, they're not going to get to travel.
"Sometimes a rugby game's not great to watch on TV but it's still bloody great to play.
"It's a game for all. All shapes and sizes. We have the ability to attract all types of girls."
And with Rugby Australia working hard to facilitate more international opportunities, that growth is likely to continue.
"We want them to play and the more opportunity they get to play, the better," Tink said.
"(Rugby Australia) are doing a great job in the background at trying to get us extra Test matches.
"We're certainly appreciative of that.
"Two games last year against New Zealand was great, now we've got four (internationals).
"I know the girls appreciate it, as a coaching staff we certainly do.
"Even last year from the first Test to the second Test we saw a huge improvement in the girls.
"And the more footy we play, the better."
Wallaroos' Test program:
Saturday July 13 - Australia vs Japan, Newcastle Sportsground no. 2
Friday July 19 - Australia vs Japan, North Sydney Oval
Saturday August 10 - Australia vs New Zealand, Optus Stadium, Perth,
Saturday August 17 - New Zealand vs Australia, Eden Park, Auckland
