The Club Recommended NRLW Player Agent Isn't Always the Right Agent for You
- John Fadel
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
Introduction
This is a subject not many people are comfortable talking about, and I say everything in this article respectfully.
More than ten years ago, I didn't enter the female rugby league space because I saw a business opportunity. I entered because I genuinely believed the women's game deserved better pathways, stronger development and honest representation.
Today, after more than a decade working with female rugby league players across Australia and New Zealand, I believe it's one of the most exciting forms of football to watch. Others may prefer the men's game, and that's perfectly fine, but the skill, resilience and toughness shown by these athletes deserves genuine respect.
One of the biggest decisions a family will ever make isn't which club their daughter signs with.
It's which NRLW player agent they choose to trust.
Sometimes clubs, recruiters or people within the game may recommend a manager.
Sometimes those recommendations are genuine.
Sometimes they may simply come from existing professional relationships.
Either way, every parent owes it to their daughter to ask questions, do their research and make an independent decision.
Because choosing the right NRLW player agent isn't about getting the quickest contract.
It's about building the right career.
Why Choosing the Right NRLW Player Agent Matters More Than the First Contract
One of the first questions parents ask me is:
Why was I referred to this manager?
The honest answer is...
You may never know.
And you don't need to.
What matters is whether that recommendation is genuinely in your daughter's best interests.
Before signing with any NRLW player agent, ask questions.
Do your own research.
Have honest conversations.
Don't assume that because someone in rugby league recommended an agent, they're automatically the right person for your daughter.
Questions Every Family Should Ask an NRLW Player Agent
Before appointing any player agent, ask them:
How long have you represented NRL and NRLW players?
What is your fee structure?
How often will you communicate with us?
How do you manage conflicts of interest?
What is your long-term development plan beyond the first contract?
How do you honestly rate my daughter's ability?
What are her strengths?
What areas must she improve?
What position do you believe suits her best?
If no contract comes, what's the plan?
What happens if another club becomes interested?
What support do you provide outside contract negotiations?
How do you measure progress over one, three and five years?
What happens if my daughter wants to change clubs?
If an agent can't answer these questions confidently, how can they confidently guide your daughter's career?
EXCEL Sports Philosophy
At EXCEL Sports, we made a conscious decision many years ago not to represent coaches.
We did this because we believe our loyalty should always be to our players.
We never want a player receiving opportunities because of who represents them.
We want every player to earn her place.
Earn it through hard work.
Earn it through discipline.
Earn it through resilience.
Earn it through continual improvement.
Our responsibility isn't to find shortcuts.
Our responsibility is to help players become good enough that opportunities come because they've earned them.
Sometimes that means having difficult conversations.
Sometimes it means saying,
"You're not ready yet."
That doesn't mean never.
It means...
Keep training.
Keep learning.
Keep improving.
When your opportunity comes, you'll be ready.
Don't Choose an Agent Because They Can Get You a Contract
Choose them because they'll tell you when not to sign one.
Parents rarely think about this.
Many simply want to celebrate on social media that their daughter has signed an NRLW contract.
But the right agent understands something much bigger.
Sometimes the best advice is:
Stay where you are.
Don't move yet.
Train harder.
Finish school.
Develop under the right coach.
Wait another season.
The hardest advice often creates the longest careers.
A Contract Doesn't Build Confidence
If you've read my previous articles:
Confidence Isn't Given, It's Earned
The Psychology of Being Dropped
You'll understand why this matters.
Confidence isn't built because someone gives you a contract.
Confidence is built because you know you've earned your place.
That's the confidence that survives setbacks.
The Pain of Being Rushed
The pain of being benched.
The pain of being dropped.
The pain of not performing because you weren't ready.
Often outweighs the disappointment of waiting another season until you truly are.
A Contract Isn't the Finish Line
Many families celebrate signing.
Professionals understand signing is only the beginning.
After the contract comes:
Selection pressure
Injuries
Being dropped
Homesickness
Mental health
Relocation
Negotiations
Upgrades
Extensions
Media
Retirement
This is where the right NRLW player agent adds real value.
Be Careful Changing Agents
If someone tells you to leave an agent you already trust...
Ask why.
Is there a genuine reason?
Has your current agent done something wrong?
Or is someone simply making life easier for themselves?
Your relationship with your agent should be built on trust.
Not convenience.
Choose Someone Who Will Tell You the Truth
Every parent loves hearing,
"Your daughter's amazing."
A better agent might say,
"She's talented...
...but here's what she must improve before she'll become an NRLW player."
Honesty builds long careers.
Final Thoughts from John Fadel
This article isn't about EXCEL Sports.
It's about you.
The parents.
The families.
As I've said many times...
We're not for everyone.
And not everyone is for us.
That's perfectly okay.
Choosing an agent isn't about finding the biggest name or the quickest contract.
It's about finding someone you trust.
Someone who understands your daughter.
Someone who's prepared to tell her the truth.
Many of our players didn't like hearing my honesty the first time we met.
A week later...
Many came back.
Not because I promised them a contract.
But because they realised honest advice was exactly what they needed.
If there's one thing I'd like every family to remember, it's this.
Your daughter's career belongs to her.
Not to a club.
Not to a recruiter.
Not to an agent.
Choose people who challenge her.
Not people who simply tell her what she wants to hear.
Choose people who are prepared to say,
"Not yet."
Because sometimes "not yet" is the best answer.
It means...
Keep working.
Keep improving.
Keep earning your opportunity.
Choose people who are building a career.
Not simply chasing a contract.
I've seen careers flourish because the foundations were built properly.
I've also seen opportunities come too early, making the journey much harder than it needed to be.
Contracts come and go.
Character stays.
Your reputation stays.
The way you train.
The way you respond to setbacks.
The respect you earn.
Those things stay with you long after any contract expires.
If this article has helped you ask better questions, then it's achieved exactly what I hoped.
If you'd like an honest, confidential conversation about your daughter's future, you're welcome to contact EXCEL Sports Management.
Whether you choose EXCEL Sports or not, every conversation I have with a player or family remains completely confidential.
My hope is simple.
That every player finds the right environment.
The right support.
The right people.
Not just to become a better rugby league player...
But to become a better person.
Because great careers aren't built on shortcuts.
They're built on honesty.
Development.
Resilience.
And earning every opportunity.
Thinking About Choosing a Player Agent?
Choosing an agent is one of the biggest decisions your family will make throughout your daughter's rugby league journey.
If you'd like an honest and confidential conversation about her development, future opportunities or long-term career planning, contact EXCEL Sports Management.
Whether you choose us or not, our goal is to help families make informed decisions based on what's best for the player—not simply what's easiest today.
If you need to get a better understanding, fill out our contract us form for a strictly confidential conversation. Click Here
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