- Follows the path of AFL trailblazer
Emma Lawrence has officially broken one of the last glass ceilings in Australian sport.
The Channel Nine and Triple M star will become the first woman in NRL history to serve as a full-time play-by-play caller when the season kicks off in Las Vegas next Sunday.
Triple M confirmed the landmark appointment as part of its 2026 NRL commentary lineup, elevating Lawrence into the primary calling chair alongside seasoned broadcasters and former players.
Her rise to the position follows months of preparation behind the scenes.
Late last year, it emerged she had been using the offseason to sharpen her play-calling craft at Triple M’s studios, determined to step into a role traditionally reserved for men.
Now, that preparation has turned into history.
Emma Lawrence becomes first woman in NRL history to secure full-time play-by-play commentary role for 2026 season
Since joining Triple M in 2017, Lawrence has grown into one of league’s most recognisable voices
The milestone mirrors AFL trailblazer Kelli Underwood’s 2009 breakthrough calling men’s matches on television
‘I’m pumped to kick off the 2026 NRL season on Triple M!’ Lawrence said.
‘Calling the game that I love alongside such an elite crew is an absolute thrill, and I can’t wait to take listeners through every tackle, try, and big moment. Let’s get it started!’
Lawrence joined Triple M in 2017 and has become one of the most recognisable voices in the sport through her work on The Rush Hour NSW and Channel Nine’s NRL coverage.
She has worked alongside respected female analysts including Ruan Sims, Danika Mason and Allana Ferguson – but none had previously taken on the primary play-by-play duties in rugby league.
Her appointment places her alongside established callers such as Dan Ginnane and marks a defining shift for the sport’s media landscape.
The milestone inevitably invites comparisons to AFL, where Kelli Underwood became the first woman to call a men’s match on television in 2009.
Underwood later reflected on the resistance she faced when stepping into the role.
‘The best way to describe it – I put my hand on the door handle before anyone thought a woman had earnt the right to walk through the door,’ she said.
Triple M executive Ewan Giles called Lawrence’s elevation a ‘no-brainer’ and overdue recognition
‘I knew at the time that door handle would be red hot. I knew what was waiting for me on the other side – but I had a fire in the belly. I deeply believed it was the right thing to do.
‘I also thought if it wasn’t me, then who is going to do it?’
Nearly two decades on, rugby league now has its own breakthrough moment.
Triple M’s head of sports content Ewan Giles described Lawrence’s promotion as overdue recognition.
‘Emma stepping into the play-by-play call team is a no-brainer,’ he said.
‘Emma is one of the sharpest broadcasters in rugby league and is prepared, instinctive, and respected across the industry, and this opportunity reflects how highly regarded she is at Triple M.
‘Combined with Luke Keary’s debut and the return of Ryan Girdler, our 2026 lineup brings unmatched experience, insight, and personality. Triple M continues to deliver what footy fans want to hear.’