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Extra rugby league training programs for girls are everywhere — but which ones are actually worth the money? This guide explains what parents should look for and how players should prepare for the NRLW pathway.

Most people believe talent in rugby league is about speed and highlights. But NRLW clubs identify future stars using very different signals. NRLW player agent John Fadel explains how recruiters really evaluate female rugby league athletes — and why many talented players are overlooked.

Why I became an NRLW player agent and the story behind Excel Sports. Discover how Excel Sports was built to support female rugby league pathways across Australia and New Zealand.

How much do NRLW players actually get paid? This article breaks down NRLW salaries, development contracts, supplementary players and how athletes increase their value in the women’s rugby league system.

The most brutally honest, detailed, step-by-step guide on how to prepare for the Lisa Fiola and Tasha Gale pathways — mindset, fitness, culture, NZ vs AUS reality, and the preparation players and parents never get told.

Every athlete looks confident on the outside — but the real battle is hidden. This blog exposes the athlete mental struggle no parent, coach, or teammate ever sees. The silent pressure, the fear, the identity crisis, and how warriors are rebuilt through honesty, mindset, and the Excel Sports formula of Family • Faith • You.

A powerful deep dive into why NRLW recruitment is breaking — from inexperienced coaching and flawed selections to ignored specialists, bias selections, and unqualified decision-makers damaging pathways for young athletes.

Talent isn’t enough. Here’s the honest truth about why most female rugby league players never reach — or stay — in the NRLW, and what truly separates the 1%.

The Lisa Fiola Cup is the true starting point of the NRLW pathway. Under 17 female rugby league is where professional habits, discipline, and long-term development are built.

The real story behind New Zealand’s rise in the NRLW. The truth about pathways, development gaps, coaching standards, why Kiwi athletes now dominate, and how Excel Sports built the blueprint no one else saw coming.

A powerful breakdown of how coaching standards shape the future of women’s rugby league — from grassroots to NRLW.

Every NRLW player Talks about the 1%ers - but almost no one actually does them. This blueprint exposes the truth, the habits, the mindset, and the hidden details that separate real NRLW athletes from everyone else. Read this before your next session.

Every parent deserves to know the truth about player managers. John Fadel breaks the silence — the real differences, the dangers, the industry lies, and how to protect your child’s future.

NRLW PATHWAYS EXPLAINED — The Truth Behind Pathways (2026) Featuring: Vanna Siapo Suani Pathways has become one of the most overused, misunderstood words in the NRLW space. Parents say it. Coaches say it. Clubs promote it.But very few actually understand what pathways really means… or what it takes to move through it. Today, I’m breaking down the real pathway, from grassroots → NRLW, without the sugar-coating. To understand how we structur and guide athletes through this jou

The honest reality of NRLW Reality Check no one prepares you for — pressure, discipline, mindset, sacrifice, and what it truly takes to survive at the elite level.

John Fadel with Chloe Oliver — NRLW scouting blog thumbnail (EXCEL Sports)

Introduction – Why Parents Matter More Than You Think In NRLW pathways, everyone talks about talent, trials and contracts.Almost no one talks about the one group that has the power to make or break a career: 👉 Parents. At EXCEL Sports, we don’t just sign athletes. We build a triangle – Player • Parent • Agent – and if all three sides aren’t strong, we won’t move forward. This guide is for the mums, dads and guardians who want a real pathway, not just a highlights reel on so

The truth behind why players fall short — and the EXCEL model that creates consistent, professional NRLW athletes built for long-term success.

When it comes to the NRLW, not all agents are created equal.Some simply “sign players.”Others wait for talent to magically rise.But at EXCEL Sports, our approach is very different — because we don’t just manage athletes, we build them. For years, we have invested our time, money, resources, and expertise into developing female athletes long before they ever sign their first contract. Not one cent is charged until they reach the NRLW. That alone sets us apart from most. This b

Gezreyal Maiu’u showcasing athletic development through the EXCEL Sports NRLW Pathways Program — highlighting speed, power, and professional progression.