NRL CEO Andrew Abdo says increasing the number of games in the Telstra Women's Premiership remained a priority but a final decision won't be made until later in the year.
With many past and present players, fans and commentators saying more regular-season games was a must for 2021, Abdo said it was equally important to maintain the quality.
A full schedule for the women's calendar is yet to confirmed by the NRL as officials in the women's elite competitions draw up options around the NRLW's next steps before seeking approval from the ARL Commission.
Should the competition be expanded and the 2021 World Cup goes ahead, elite players will be in for arguably their biggest year on record with close to 30 games on offer across all levels.
At least seven of those could be via the NRLW, which has had in excess of 40 per cent player turnover on average each year across all teams since its inception in 2018.
That figure was heavily inflated last year, however, given most Warriors players couldn't travel to Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nevertheless, the competition showed significant improvement in key areas statistically to record its best season on record, adding to the case for further advancements in 2021.
"The important thing about the women's game is that we have to grow at the bottom of the pyramid and the top and in the middle concurrently," Abdo told NRL.com.
Ready to play? Join our league of strong and confident kids
"When you are on a fast trajectory in a sport you have to do it in a very balanced way and make sure you open up the game for as many females as possible.
"That's why grassroots school and club female competitions are really important but you also have to have a good pathway, whether that is by academies or whether that is by strengthening the early identification and coaching of talent through the age groups.
"Then of course you need to make sure you have strong state cup feeder competitions and of course expanding the NRLW – not just the number of teams but the number of rounds and when it is played.
"[Then] maybe finding its own place in the calendar and then of course State of Origin moving from one match to potentially two or three and more matches for the Jillaroos.
"We are very strong at the top end. We have had some great matches between the Jillaroos and Ferns but we need to make sure that other countries are investing in their pathways and a real flood of talent playing at the different age groups."
Match Highlights: Broncos v Roosters
After the Harvey Norman All Stars clash kick-started the season in February, attention has now turned to the game's best female players returning to local competitions across Australia and New Zealand.
The Harvey Norman NSW Premiership will start this weekend in a 15-round competition featuring 11 teams that runs until July.
Should the NRLW expand, there may be a slight overlap between the HNWP finals series and the top-flight clubs preparing for their upcoming campaigns.
Helensburgh's entry to the state competition has been labelled crucial for the likes of Jillaroos Kezie Apps, Sam Bremner and Jessica Sergis after the trio struggled to play regular week-in-week-out football last year.
The Tigerlillies have a bye in round one but host premiers Central Coast Roosters in Wollongong on March 20.
Match Highlights: Indigenous Women v Maori Women
The NSWRL will also play a City-Country match as a selection shoot-out in the lead-up to Ampol Women's State of Origin, which is set to be played on June 25.
Along with the return of City-Country, an Under 19s National Championships is expected to be confirmed and will replace the old format, in a bid to help usher through the next generation.
A venue for the Origin event is yet to be confirmed, however, NRL.com understands Queensland are favourites to host the standalone event after last year's breakthrough win.
It sets up a mouth-watering rematch, particularly with the Blues set to be coached by recently retired hooker Kylie Hilder.
The Maroons are on the lookout for a replacement coach of their own after Jason Hetherington parted ways with the QRL in February.
The QRL's major women's state competition, the BHP Premiership, won't start until April 10 but with only a seven-round draw scheduled, players in Queensland will be refreshed prior to Origin and the NRLW.
Defending champions Burleigh Bears loom as the side to beat but will have fierce competition in the form of an improved Tweed Head Seagulls outfit and the newly formed Valleys Diehards.
The Seagulls have recruited Jillaroos forward Shaylee Bent and Kiwi Ferns captain Georgia Hale, who are based in Queensland this year, while the Diehards will be led by Dally M Medal winner Ali Brigginshaw.
Sergis hopes for more NRLW matches in 2021
Following the NRLW and State of Origin, attention is expected to turn to the 2021 World Cup, scheduled for November.
Event organisers remain hopeful the tournament will go ahead amid the COVID-19 pandemic but those in Australia and New Zealand want to see alternatives put in place otherwise after a lack of international games played last year.
"Hopefully there's a World Cup, and if there's not this year than hopefully there is some sort of international footy for the women to play," Jillaroos coach Brad Donald told NRL.com in February.
"We just need to make sure we're ready for anything thrown at us again in 2021."
Australian-based NRLW players' club sides in 2021
Harvey Norman Women's Premiership (NSW)
Central Coast Roosters: Jayme Fressard, Mel Howard, Caitlan Johnston, Isabelle Kelly, Yasmin Meakes, Brydie Parker, Hannah Southwell.
Cronulla Sharks: Kennedy Cherrington, Keeley Davis, Corban McGregor, Tiana Penitani, Maddie Studdon, Kiana Takairangi.
Glebe Dirty Reds: Taleena Simon
Helensburgh Tigerlillies: Kezie Apps, Sam Bremner, Jessica Sergis.
Mounties: Steph Ball, Jade Etherden, Filomina Hanisi, Simaima Taufa.
North Sydney: Kirra Dibb, Nita Maynard, Shanice Parker, Shontelle Stowers, Holli Wheeler.
South Sydney Rabbitohs: Aaliyah Fasavalu-Fa'amausili, Ellie Johnston.
Wests Tigers: Botille Vette-Welsh, Raecene McGregor.
Cabramatta: Nil.
St Mary's: Nil.
Wentworthville Magpies: Nil.
The best tries from the 2020 NRLW season
BHP Premiership (Queensland)
Burleigh Bears: Millie Boyle, Karina Brown, Lauren Brown, Tazmin Gray, Laken Patai, Crystal Tamarua, Chante Temara, Zahara Temara, Tamika Upton
Central Queensland Capras: Chelsea Baker, Mariah Storch.
Gold Stars: Romy Teitzel, Shaniah Power.
Tweed Seagulls: Tarryn Aiken, Shaylee Bent, Jaime Chapman, Jess Elliston, Georgia Hale, Kaitlyn Phillips, Rona Peters
Valleys Diehards: Ali Brigginshaw, Brianna Clark, Shenae Ciesiolka, Lavinia Gould, Shannon Mato, Meg Ward
West Brisbane Panthers: Julia Robinson
Brisbane Tigers: Nil.
NRL Magic Round Brisbane 1-Day Passes are now on sale with eight massive games across round 10 at Suncorp Stadium this May. With the league's best players all heading to Brisbane, you'd hate to miss it! Tickets at NRL.com/Tickets
