Chief executive Andrew Abdo concedes the NRLW's expansion timeline could prove unpopular but won't guarantee the league will heed pleas from coaches to stick to 10 teams in 2024.
After introducing four new women's sides this year, the NRL is deliberating how quickly to strive for parity with the men's competition, which has 17 teams.
An AAP poll revealed this week that seven of the 10 NRLW coaches are against further expansion next year, concerned the talent pool is not yet big enough to sustain extra sides.
Of the remaining three coaches, only one was convinced to the contrary, with the second unsure and the third keen to see the Warriors return after the New Zealand-based club folded during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The expanded 2023 season has brought issues of squad depth into sharper focus, with the introduction of more games increasing the injury toll.
The Sydney Roosters were forced to sign strength and conditioning coach Millie Scutt to their playing roster mid-season, leading captain Isabelle Kelly to echo comments made by the seven coaches.
"I don't think we can have more than 10 teams for a few years," she told AAP.
"We've had a lot of injuries; a lot of teams have had injuries. I don't know if the talent pool's there just yet."
Last Friday, Canterbury became the first club to lodge a formal application for an NRLW licence in 2024.
But the NRL and Australian Rugby League Commission will not meet to discuss expansion plans until after the grand final on October 1.
"No decisions have been made on either the season length or the number of teams in competition," Abdo said.
"We know that the seven (NRL) clubs that don't have a licence are really keen and we're working with them around when is the right time for them to enter the competition over the next couple of years."
In light of AAP's poll, Abdo said there was only so much advice the NRL could take from coaches, with feedback also coming from broadcasters, club officials and players.
"I respect the job that the coaches do," he said.
"But they're all about winning a competition and they will look at it through their lens.
"Our job is to listen to everyone and then make the right call for the game.
"Often some of the decisions that we make, at the time, won't be popular with any particular constituency but are proven over time to be the right decisions.
"If we look at the introduction of the Dolphins (to the NRL) and we look at the introduction of the four new clubs in the women's competition (for 2023), it's added to the quality of the football and it's added to the experience of the fans.
"That's something to be really proud of."
