NRLW / HNWP 2026 - Parramatta Eels

[The Predictor]

Zali Fay has the worst 10 minutes of her career, and let in all 3 tries.

What is concerning is the lack of constructive play when the girls have possession inside the opposition 20, can’t win when you don’t score .

Zali has been rubbish from day one 1, I only watch because her shorts are painted on, I honestly don’t know why she is considered a first grade player

 

[RealdEel]

Spot on here

The NRLW has become a 2 horse race and its now uncompetitive.

If the NRL dont pull there finger out the NRLW wont grow while the Broncos and Roosters stockpile talent for themselves

This guy seems to be ahead with the idea!

Though the NRL won't do anything about it just like they won't fix the terrible officiating

The NRL had an opportunity to fix the outdated system they currently have with the NRL mens competition with recruitment.

They could have thrown a bit more money towards the women's game and actually gone with the route of having an NRLW draft. Put money into the grass roots of the women's game. Use that concept to then fix the men's NRL contract signing rabble.

 

[TheParraboy]

Copping a bit of a flogging

Not our year this one...

 

[The Predictor]

Copping a bit of a flogging

Not our year this one...

They should spend less time on social media, and more on the paddock

 

[Delboy]

Copping a bit of a flogging

Not our year this one...

The NrL has to cop some blame for the lopsided scores, originally the intent was to categorise the talent and clubs would get 4 marquees each.
Broncos and Roosters led their own charge that they had invested etc and was unfair, NRL buckled and we now have 2 super teams and the the rest. Similar in many ways to the manner in which the NRL itself has been allowed to maintain a bit of what looks like a closed shop, Penrith has set themselves apart as their junior development trumped what has been the norm.

 

[Gronk]

The NrL has to cop some blame for the lopsided scores, originally the intent was to categorise the talent and clubs would get 4 marquees each.
Broncos and Roosters led their own charge that they had invested etc and was unfair, NRL buckled and we now have 2 super teams and the the rest. Similar in many ways to the manner in which the NRL itself has been allowed to maintain a bit of what looks like a closed shop, Penrith has set themselves apart as their junior development trumped what has been the norm.

You saved me a long winded post. Broncos and Roosters then daylight.

 

[King-Gutho94]

The NrL has to cop some blame for the lopsided scores, originally the intent was to categorise the talent and clubs would get 4 marquees each.
Broncos and Roosters led their own charge that they had invested etc and was unfair, NRL buckled and we now have 2 super teams and the the rest. Similar in many ways to the manner in which the NRL itself has been allowed to maintain a bit of what looks like a closed shop, Penrith has set themselves apart as their junior development trumped what has been the norm.

Yep the NRL have basically made a rod for its own back here.

We are actually a mid table side but all of them are getting cut up by those 2 sides.

Its actually hurting the product more when it should be growing.

Broncos and Roosters may as well play a 11 game series and the rest just play for another trophy

 

[parra pete]

They should spend less time on social media, and more on the paddock

or more time in the kitchen!!!

 

[King-Gutho94]

NRLW Tackle: Jesse Southwell transfer rumour with Broncos that threatens the delicate balance of league​

Speculation is growing that Newcastle’s star halfback Jesse Southwell is heading to one of the ‘Big Two’ NRLW clubs, a move which would be a huge blow to the delicate balance of the league.


Last week we raised the possibility of a women’s draft and why it’s crucial to ensure the NRLW doesn’t become lopsided with dominant clubs like the Roosters and Broncos banking all the talent.
This week that conversation has become all the more relevant.

Newcastle halfback Jesse Southwell is off contract and Brisbane are interested in signing her.

That’s only natural, she’s the best halfback in the competition and every team in the game would be interested in having the 20-year-old star on the books.

However, despite options in her contract for 2026 and 2027, rumours are growing that she will end up in Brisbane to replace five-eighth Gayle Broughton, which would be a huge blow to the delicate balance of the NRLW.

Not to mention, incredibly hard for fans of rival teams to cop.

Already this season the Roosters and Brisbane are completely dominating the competition from the top of the ladder.

That’s no knock on them, both clubs put a lot of investment, effort and energy into making their women’s programs a supportive and competitive place for players to grow.

Of course that kind of environment is attractive to the bulk of the playing group, and especially the game’s elite.

The top clubs should be congratulated for what they have built.

And to be devil’s advocate, players aren’t paid a full-time wage and should be free to play with their mates or the best possible squad if they’re lucky enough to get the opportunity.

But to have so many stars concentrated in a few areas doesn’t feel right, especially when you consider the game is still trying to grow an audience and the recruitment battles new and bottom-placed teams face every season.

With any luck the Southwell to Broncos rumour is just that, a rumour.

But as we said last week, something needs to be done before this 12-team competition becomes a yearly two-horse race and fans start changing the channel.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nrlw/nrlw-tackle-two-send-offs-from-horror-tackles-put-warriors-finals-hopes-in-jeopardy/news-story/ddf8e2fb68087ce656bcc1535b21110e

 

[Gronk]

The girls are having a real crack. 12 all at oranges.

 

[Gronk]

Roosters will hit 50 soon.

 

[Grigor]

Pointless comp , all the roosters are employed lol by the club so it's nothing more than a stacked side , and bronco's are the same

 

[Delboy]

That the NRL allow 2 teams to be stacked is an awful look. Roosters don’t have a women’s comp, even signed Millie Boyne who lives in Newcastle and never questioned, concept is good, actual running it is amateur hour.

 

[King-Gutho94]

I have tuned out now.

The NRL have made a rod for its own back.

Letting the Roosters and Broncos just stockpile origin players.

Its a 2 team comp for the next 3 or 4 years while everyone slowly plays catchup.

You want to increase viewership and grow the women's game this isnt it.

Having 2 glamour clubs just 4 or 5 levels above the rest when all the other clubs still ain't full time players.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Someone in the media pointed this out when Boyle and Sergis went to the Roosters and the fear that it will be a two horse race in the next few years with so many floggings. That prediction is almost true. I dont know how the administrators let this happen. When the comp first came in, you would see young fans admire their heroes and names of the back of jersies. But then players kept changing clubs. I get the players going to expanded clubs but when you have big names going to the big clubs, it doesnt seem right and not a good promotion for the game.

 

[the phantom menace]

Needs a salary cap of some sort... or an effective one if they try to argue there already is one.

Otherwise it's just a chequebook trophy and of no abiding fan interest, kind of like Premier League soccer became in the UK.

 

[Twizzle]

Google AI,

NRLW has a salary cap, but it appears clubs just don't want to invest in it.

the NRLW (National Rugby League Women's Premiership) has a salary cap, which is increasing incrementally over a five-year agreement period. For the 2025 season, the salary cap was set at $1,254,000, covering the top 24 players in each squad, with plans to continue rising to $1.518 million by 2027.

• Planned Increases:
  A new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) established planned increases to the salary cap.
  
  
• Squad Structure:
  The cap includes funding for a top 24-player squad, with an additional four development players being funded by the club.
  
  
• • Minimum Wage:
    A minimum salary for contracted players is also part of the agreement, rising to $41,800 in 2025 and increasing further each year.
    
  • Marquee Players:
    Two marquee players per club may be offered full-time positions, with their salaries being considered outside the salary cap.
    
    
    
    

 

[Delboy]

Google AI,

NRLW has a salary cap, but it appears clubs just don't want to invest in it.

the NRLW (National Rugby League Women's Premiership) has a salary cap, which is increasing incrementally over a five-year agreement period. For the 2025 season, the salary cap was set at $1,254,000, covering the top 24 players in each squad, with plans to continue rising to $1.518 million by 2027.

• Planned Increases:
  A new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) established planned increases to the salary cap.
  
  
• Squad Structure:
  The cap includes funding for a top 24-player squad, with an additional four development players being funded by the club.
  
  
• • Minimum Wage:
    A minimum salary for contracted players is also part of the agreement, rising to $41,800 in 2025 and increasing further each year.
  • Marquee Players:
    Two marquee players per club may be offered full-time positions, with their salaries being considered outside the salary cap.
    
    
    

On Freddy and the 8th last night, Fittler just said the Roosters employ their NRLW players to ensure they are basically full time. When questioned by Johns that seemed somewhat dodgy, Freddy said well other clubs should spend more on their women’s players. Obviously we shouldn’t expect any questions to be raised, so a club with no women’s participation just continues to sign players and they are basically 20/30 points better than all clubs except the Broncos. They both agreed it was a 2 team competition and that Newcastle was the closest and they would be lucky to get within 20 points of those 2, and it was likely the Knights would lose their best player to the Broncos at seasons end and the talent gap would get wider.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Google AI,

NRLW has a salary cap, but it appears clubs just don't want to invest in it.

the NRLW (National Rugby League Women's Premiership) has a salary cap, which is increasing incrementally over a five-year agreement period. For the 2025 season, the salary cap was set at $1,254,000, covering the top 24 players in each squad, with plans to continue rising to $1.518 million by 2027.

• Planned Increases:
  A new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) established planned increases to the salary cap.
  
  
• Squad Structure:
  The cap includes funding for a top 24-player squad, with an additional four development players being funded by the club.
  
  
• • Minimum Wage:
    A minimum salary for contracted players is also part of the agreement, rising to $41,800 in 2025 and increasing further each year.
  • Marquee Players:
    Two marquee players per club may be offered full-time positions, with their salaries being considered outside the salary cap.
    
    

The current Salary Cap structure is taking the piss

I actually think the Roosters/Broncos dominance this year has meant the NRLW has taken a massive step back this year with Neutral eyes.

No one in the comp has a chance of beating those stacked sides when the comp is still developing.

And its just given most blokey RL fans an excuse to kick the girls format to the curb and not be interested.

 

[T.S Quint]

The current Salary Cap structure is taking the piss

I actually think the Roosters/Broncos dominance this year has meant the NRLW has taken a massive step back this year with Neutral eyes.

No one in the comp has a chance of beating those stacked sides when the comp is still developing.

And it’s just given most blokey RL fans an excuse to kick the girls format to the curb and not be interested.

You’re not wrong.
I quite enjoy watching the women’s game, but if it’s just going to be these two teams dominating over the rest year after year then why would I bother?

Ive got mates who aren’t even League fans (Union and AFL) who say all the time how the NRLW is so much better than the women’s leagues in their favourite sports. They even don’t mind watching a game here and there. They will disappear if they already k ow who’s going to win.