NRL

But this is the biggest step made by the Australians, who have committed to a three-Test tour against northern hemisphere opposition at the end of the demanding NRL season.

Twelve months ago, he reached out to the NRL to get his side involved, having watched last year's inaugural event that was limited to just Australian clubs.

Barrow and his players knew it was always going to be asking a lot to beat a side packed with NRL Women's Premiership talent, but the margin of the defeat came as a huge shock.

It led Wigan chief executive Kris Radlinski to send a speculative email to the NRL's organisers to see if the Warriors could take part this year.

White Ribbon, which has had a relationship with the NRL since the mid-2000s, did not specifically name Trump.