NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo says he doesn't know when the NRLW will become a fully professional competition.
At the launch of the rearranged 2021 competition in Newcastle on Tuesday, Abdo could not say when the game's top female players could expect to join the professional ranks.
Despite the NRL this week announcing a $42million surplus for the 2021 financial year and a trebling in female participation since 2017, Abdo was unable to provide a timeline.
"It's difficult to predict," he said.
"I don't have the answer for you there. But all I can say is that we are putting the foundations and enablers in place to facilitate that.
"How many years that takes, I can't answer.
"But what I can say is that we will invest at all levels of the pyramid to make sure that the quality of the football and the experience for the players is not compromised."
The NRL remains reluctant to embrace full-time professionalism as it remains unsure on how many teams, mindful of diluting the standard, it wishes to add to the competition.
There are six teams in the NRLW with Parramatta, Gold Coast and Newcastle the newcomers joining reigning champions Brisbane, the Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra.
The Warriors withdrew from the competition due to COVID-19.
Parramatta captain Simaima Taufa told AAP she wants the NRLW to go full time within the next five years.
Asked if he had a figure on what an elite level female player should be paid, Abdo said: "No I don't.
"There are a number of factors that go into that; supply and demand, the level of content, the revenue that allows us to do that.
"The (Australian Rugby League) commission is committed to increasing the ability for players and officials to be able to increase their salaries and earning capacity through endorsements and sponsorships and support."
The NRLW kicks off on Sunday with a triple-header at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, with each team playing each other once before a standalone grand final at Redcliffe on April 10.
This weekend marks the start of a congested year for the game's female players, who face an unprecedented level of action.
It includes the delayed 2021 competition, the 2022 NRLW season, State of Origin, a Rugby League World Cup and respective state championships.
Despite the heavy burden on part-time players, Abdo claimed they would not suffer burn out.
"We've put in place some guidance and caps around training workloads to ensure we manage players," he said.
