NRLW

[Woody90]

It’s so f**ked. They talk up wanting to grow the women’s game but then literally every good player gets poached to 2 teams.

 

[Old dog]

It’s so f**ked. They talk up wanting to grow the women’s game but then literally every good player gets poached to 2 teams.

Someone needs to explain to me how this happens, how can two teams sign all the quality players while others develop and then see them leave.
I really don’t have a clue or understand it

 

[MakeItStop85]

I do think the club needs to come out and explain to the fans what’s going on instead of this ‘refuse to comment’ line.

 

[perverse]

She had her chance to become the female Joey. An absolute icon of rugby league in her hometown. And she's thrown it all away

To be honest I don't think anyone cares about the club or the town enough for this to mean anything much anymore. It's sad, but it's where I feel we're at. Being a Knights legend in 2025 isn't too far above being a legend at the local pub for that one time you sunk 4 balls on a break with 20 drinks under your belt.

I mean I don't know what your world is like, but I am resoundingly ridiculed by most of my friends, peers and even family for still bothering to watch the Knights. Many of them ex-fans themselves.

I'm sure Jess has some level of sentimentality, but I doubt it's enough to overshadow her earning potential, her career prospects and her... other... interests right now. Not at 20 years of age.

 

[perverse]

I don’t blame the club here either. They did everything they could do keep Jesse but I’ll leave it there because it’s not public even though most people around the town know exactly what’s gone down.

This one doesn't seem to be the clubs fault at all. The Broncos shouldn't be able to fit her in, and then there's other reasons we're not allowed to get into. We're soft and annoying and frustratingly limp and passive, but it's not our fault she's left in this instance, from what we can see out here at least.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

I'm wondering if there are issues with the women's team behind the scenes.

 

[MakeItStop85]

I'm wondering if there are issues with the women's team behind the scenes.

If only you knew….

 

[mozza91]

I’ve already heard a few times tonight about the Broncos luring Tamika Upton back home this season. No longer spouting on about personal/family reasons I see. Maybe the NRL should look into it?

 

[SamSepi0l]

I've been a huge fan of the NRLW both as a competition and the Knights but this really kills a lot of interest. What a joke. Feels worse than any big recent transfer of any sport I follow. Why bother?

 

[SamSepi0l]

Top 3 in Dally M:
Upton, Robinson, Southwell. What a good comp we're set up to have.

 

[Apey]

Congrats to Yasmin on being named in the team of the year. Unlucky to not win Captain of the year imo. It's unfortunate we don't have such a leader in the men's team, maybe Lucas will become that guy? A fellow second rower.

Jesse won halfback of the year which is no surprise, and came 3rd to Upton and Robinson... two other Broncos players. Heh.

Addit: forgot, Gallagher was one of the wingers of the year too. Well deserved, saved her worst game for last unfortunately but had a great year.

 

[MakeItStop85]

F*ck Tamika and her chipmunk looking face!

 

[Apey]

I've been a huge fan of the NRLW both as a competition and the Knights but this really kills a lot of interest. What a joke. Feels worse than any big recent transfer of any sport I follow. Why bother?

It'd be like if the Panthers hadn't shed players like Luai, Crichton & JFH and they signed Payne Haas to round out their roster.

 

[Nuke]

I can't not support the Knights, male or female team. I'm also a passionate advocate for the womens game at any level (having worked for years with and for the womens team at my club in Perth). But f**k me is hard to give a shit about the NRLW after this. It was a stab in the face last year when Upton decided she had family reasons to go back to the Broncos (sure, Tamika, sure...), and this just seals it with Southwell also going to that same fricken club.

I hope the Broncos get smashed this weekend in the NRLW GF. F**k the lot of 'em.

 

[jonno_knights]

Damned if you do, damned if you dont. I know its likely a very different situation to Galvin, but look at all the shit the Tigers copped when they tried bring the questionable tactics to light. And with Braiths influence now as a player manager and media influencer, its a situation youd want to tread very carefully. You only have to look at his arrogance in social media comments and how he talks on 360 to know he is looking out for his clients bests interests (which as a manager is his right) but as a media personality its a conflict of interest.

Im not sure the club opening up a war of words in the media would do anything to help the situation. Whatver the circumstances are, it sounds like the clubs hands are tied.

You can only hope the other 10 clubs band together and raise the issues in the right forum - if that even exists.

Im not privy to all the inner workings of how the NRLW salary cap works - so if someone has a simple explanation that'd be great!

Is it a case of Newcastle could exceed the broncos offer easily "on the books", but because the game is still semi professional, all these girls are getting "jobs" for the club during the off-season that are outside the cap? Jobs which the knights dont have the budget for to just be handing out like the bigger clubs?

So essentially like the third party rorts in the NRL, just easier to set up for the clubs?

Or is it a case of playing for the bigger clubs improves chances at rep jerseys, and the rep bonus' are huge in the NRLW as a % of income compared to the NRL?

 

[jonno_knights]

After a bit of reddit research, sounds like the main issue is the cap structure. Difference between the top players and minimum wage is next to nothing, so add the near guarenteed rep bonus's on top and the players dont even need to take much of a paycut.

Sounds like the only way to really solve the issue is to increase the cap so the gap can be bigger and reduce the influence of rep bonus' and side jobs, or introduce marquee player allowances to allow clubs to go outside the cap for X number of players. That way each club can lock in a few gun players.

Which for a comp that is likely not that financially independent yet, probably isnt the wisest move. Problem is, not taking action and turning it into a 2-horse race sounds like it will stunt any growth towards independence and major cap increases.

 

[Haffa]

Local women’s footy is where I will invest my time now. The NRLW is cooked.

 

[Knight Tales]

There will be someone better around the corner. Some really talented kids emerging.

 

[MakeItStop85]

There will be someone better around the corner. Some really talented kids emerging.

Until the Broncos/Roosters come sniffing around

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Way back when when we didn't have a big budget we had local businesses supporting the club more with jobs for players.
I know Gary Dowling had players working at his Hamilton Real Estate Office.
We need at least that level of support for the NRLW team.