History was made at Cronulla High School last week as more than 200 girls from across the state competed in the inaugural NSWPSSA (Primary Schools Sports Association) Girls Rugby League Championship, the first girls-only competition of its kind at the primary school level.

Spread across three days, the championship brought together 10 public school zones from across the state and two from the Catholic sector.

Sydney West was crowned champions after a rousing 24-6 victory over Hunter Region in the final with Sydney South West claiming third place.

Championship convenor and Murwillumbah Public School Principal Les Daley said the event had been years in the making.

"Back in 2023 I ran an exhibition game between two regions which was 34 girls,” he said. “That turned into four regions the following year, then 10 regions, and this year we've got 204 girls competing at this elite pathway.”

The championship is visibly the NSW public schools' High Potential and Gifted Education framework in action, providing a formal identification and development pathway for talented young female athletes who previously had no equivalent competition to their male peers.

Mr Daley said education remained the foundation of everything the program stood for.

"The highest priority has to be their education, we keep that front and centre,” he said. “But outside of that, we want to give these girls every opportunity to shine".

A NSW representative squad was named from the best players, and Mr Daley is hopeful of organising a clash with Queensland next year, after scheduling challenges prevented it from happening this time around.

Adding extra gravitas to the occasion was the presence of Sharks NRLW player, Quincy Dodd, a Cronulla High School alumni who returned to her school to witness the historic event firsthand.

Ms Dodd, also part of the 2026 State of Origin series-winning NSW side, said the championship represented everything she had hoped girls’ rugby league could become.

"When I was about 12 years old there was no such thing as a girls’ team, we were mixed with the boys," she said. "To see 12 teams here, the best in the state, it's just amazing".

Ms Dodd, who developed her love of the game through her family before going on to represent at the highest level, said visible pathways and role models were key to the sport's growth.

"I feel like it's still got a while to go, but it's definitely improved since I started back in 2016. It's still on the rise," she said.

She said returning to Cronulla High School made the occasion even more meaningful.

"I love coming back here. This is where I first started playing rugby league. I just hope I'm giving back to the young girls now and making sure there is a pathway, and a strong one".