The introduction of the NRL Touch Premiership was a game- changing advancement for the sport. Twelve teams (six Women’s and six Men’s) of elite touch football players representing six NRL clubs played a tournament as curtain- raisers to NRL fixtures, and the games were broadcast on Fox Sports. More than 50,000 fans witnessed a game live in stadiums, and Fox League reported strong broadcast results, including a 283% increase in timeslot broadcast audience for game one. There were three NSW NRL clubs in the inaugural NRL Touch Premiership – the Wests Tigers, Parramatta Eels and Newcastle Knights – plus all three Queensland NRL clubs – the Gold Coast Titans, Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys. For year one, the teams played in a state conference format, the NSW clubs playing each other and the Queensland teams playing each other, for a total of six rounds before a grand final between the prevailing NSW and Queensland teams – the Wests Tigers and Brisbane Broncos in both the Men’s and Women’s divisions. It was the Tigers who claimed the Women’s title, with an impressive 4-2 victory. It was the Tigers who claimed the Women’s title, with an impressive 4-2 victory on the back of an inspired performance from Ash Quinlan, who took Player of the Final and also Player of the Premiership awards. The tables were turned in the Men’s final, with the Broncos winning in a dramatic drop-off (6-5). NRL TOUCH PREMIERSHIP 8 | Keeping In Touch 2018