'Careers at risk' as players caught in NRL stoush

1 year ago 84

The game's women players are disquieted they are putting their careers astatine hazard arsenic the NRL and the Players Association proceed to haggle implicit the wage headdress for 2023.

No NRLW players tin motion contracts for adjacent season, which kicks disconnected successful July, until the quality is resolved.

But the girls are grooming hard - afloat alert of the dangers involved.

"We are doing interaction grooming but are not connected contract," 1 starring NRLW subordinate told me.

"If I bash my ACL, it could beryllium the extremity of my vocation and I person nary fiscal security.

"It's a existent worry."

The 4 caller NRLW clubs for adjacent play - the Cowboys, Tigers, Sharks and Raiders - are peculiarly feeling the pinch.

"We can't motion players portion everyone is dragging their heels implicit the wage cap," 1 manager told me.

"We cannot get players to perpetrate - and I don't blasted them erstwhile we can't marque due offers to them."

RLPA brag Clint Newton acknowledges the occupation and hopes to settee matters with the NRL soon.

"It's an ongoing process and we had different gathering past week," Newton said.

"The women who played successful the World Cup enactment their adjacent play astatine hazard due to the fact that they are uncontracted truthful it's not ideal.

"We are alert of their plight and hopefully tin resoluteness thing soon."

HOW VETERAN ALMOST LANDED AT PANTHERS

At 31, Sam Williams whitethorn person retired from the NRL but the itch to support playing remains.

Williams, who had 3 stints with his beloved Canberra Raiders, has signed connected arsenic captain-coach with the Queanbeyan Kangaroos.

But what fewer radical cognize is that Williams came adjacent to getting a commencement with premiers Penrith, arsenic replacement for Dolphins-bound Sean O'Sullivan.

O'Sullivan played 10 NRL games this twelvemonth arsenic back-up for prima halfback Nathan Cleary and the premiers were looking astatine Williams, a chill organiser with a bully kicking game, to capable a akin role.

In the end, the Panthers went for erstwhile Knight Jack Cogger, who played this twelvemonth for Huddersfield successful England, but the woody with Williams came close.

WORLD CUP STAR EYEING NRL START

Irish planetary guardant Henry O'Kane has switched from the Tigers to the Sharks successful a bid to interruption into the NRL.

Despite playing for Wests successful the NSW Cup past season, the 20-year-old backrower was chosen to play for Ireland successful the World Cup.

The strapping guardant was calved successful Sydney but has Irish descendants, which made him eligible for the tournament.

The Sharks person plentifulness of spot successful the forwards and it won't beryllium an casual way for O'Kane.

But the youngster volition bash immoderate grooming with the NRL squad implicit the summertime earlier starting successful the little grades and from there, the shot is successful his court.

World Cup not cooperating with Radley probe

TOWERING DRAGON BANGING ON DOOR

A gangly backrower successful the Ben Creagh mould could beryllium a astonishment packet astatine the Dragons successful 2023.

Alex Lobb, presently connected a bid and proceedings deal, is turning heads with his enactment successful the pre-season.

The 21-year-old played for the Dragons successful the Flegg Cup past play and was a standout.

"He's not acold disconnected the apical 30," a Dragons insider told me.

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