But Raiders chief executive Don Furner thought a 2023 entry into the competition might be more realistic.

That won't stop him from trying to become the eighth NRLW club, with the Raiders board charging him with the task of putting in an application for the '22 season.

The ARL Commission announced on Friday they'd expand to six clubs this year, with Gold Coast, Newcastle and Parramatta joining the competition - while the New Zealand Warriors will drop out due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

They were expected to return in 2023, when the NRLW will expand to eight teams.

The Raiders were hopeful of landing that eighth-and-final spot.

"What we have to do is put an application in and we might get it, or they might say, 'You're not ready for these reasons and we'll look at you in '23'," Furner said.

"I think we're more than likely to be '23 rather than '22, mainly because we've got to recruit and show the pathways are strong enough to compete.

"So our aim is '22. It goes to eight [teams] next year and we get it great. If they say one more year and we get it because it goes to 10 the following year. That's our aim.

"It's on our agenda. The board has charged me with getting a team in. We're going to get it done.

"We're raising money for it. There's a lot of interest, which is it, corporately and from ACT government. We want one."

MORE RAIDERS NEWS

The NRL will introduce a centralised contracting system for female players as part of the expansion.

Parramatta, Newcastle and Gold Coast will join foundation clubs Brisbane, St George Illawarra and the Sydney Roosters for the seven-week competition, which will start in round 23 of the NRL season - with the decider to be played on grand final day.

The expansion from four to six clubs has raised the number of games from seven to 18.

Each team will play each other once, predominantly in double headers with NRL games, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals.

The competition will then expand to eight teams in 2022 with the Warriors expected to return.

How the contracting system will work was of most interest with some clubs and players concerned at the lack of detail with just 10 weeks until round one in August.

It's understood the proposed scheme would involve a number of the top players being contracted by the league and then allocated to NRLW clubs.

The idea was to allow new clubs to compete on a level playing field with the already established teams and their top-tier players.

The RLPA was still working with the NRL to organise the specifics, with contracts yet to be handed out as pre-season training approaches.

"We're working with the players and the clubs on the contracting system," NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.

"There'll be a central contracting system and a free agency model, so that happens next.

"We're now working on the draw with both broadcasters.

"In the next couple of weeks we'll be in a position to announce the final squads, which each club will announce."

Meanwhile, the Knights have announced recently retired half Blake Green as women's coach for this season, with ex-Parramatta player Dean Widders to coach the Eels.

Gold Coast are yet to finalise their coaching structure. with AAP.

NRL ROUND 14

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Brisbane Broncos at Canberra Stadium, 7.35pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Bailey Simonsson, 2. Semi Valemei, 3. Sebastian Kris, 4. Matthew Timoko, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. Corey Harawira-Naera, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Tom Starling, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Iosia Soliola, 17. Joseph Tapine. Reserves: 18. Elijah Anderson, 19. Hudson Young, 20. Matt Frawley, 21. Harry Rushton.

Broncos squad: 1. Herbie Farnworth, 2. Xavier Coates, 3. Dale Copley, 4. Jesse Arthars, 5. Selwyn Cobbo, 6. Karmichael Hunt, 7. Albert Kelly, 8. Matthew Lodge, 9. Jake Turpin, 10. Payne Haas, 11. Alex Glenn, 12. Tevita Pangai jnr, 13. Thomas Flegler. Interchange: 14. Kobe Hetherington, 15. John Asiata, 16. Keenan Palasia, 17. TC Robati. Reserves: 18. Tesi Niu, 19. Cory Paix, 20. David Mead, 21. Jordan Riki.