The Biggest NRLW Recruitment Mistakes Players And Parents Make
- John Fadel
- Jun 21
- 8 min read
NRLW Recruitment Mistakes That Kill Careers
One of the biggest NRLW recruitment mistakes players and parents make is chasing money too early.
I have seen this over and over again.
A player has one good season, a representative jersey, a bit of social media attention, and suddenly everyone believes they should be chasing the biggest contract available.
The reality is that the biggest contract is not always the best contract.
A player earning $60,000 under a coach who can improve their speed, game awareness, fitness, confidence and overall football IQ may be far better off than a player earning $80,000 under a coach who cannot add any value to their development.
At Excel Sports, we are constantly looking at the long game.
Can this coach improve the player?
Can this club improve the player?
Can this environment improve the player?
Can this decision create a 10-year player?
That is what matters.
Another major NRLW recruitment mistake is choosing the wrong club for the wrong reasons.
Many players chase familiarity.
They want to stay with friends.
They want to stay where they are comfortable.
But comfort rarely creates growth.
Sometimes the best decision for a player's career is the decision that makes them uncomfortable.
A different coach.
A different environment.
A different challenge.
Growth often comes from stepping outside your comfort zone.
Another mistake is ignoring development.
Players become obsessed with contracts while ignoring the reasons contracts are offered in the first place.
Speed.
Fitness.
Body shape.
Mindset.
Game awareness.
Coachability.
Leadership.
These are the things that create value.
The contract is simply the reward.
The development comes first.
The contract comes second.
One of the hardest conversations I have with parents is when they blame everyone except the areas that need fixing.
The coach.
The club.
The manager.
The selectors.
The politics.
The reality is that sometimes the answer is much simpler.
The player needs to improve.
That is not criticism.
That is opportunity.
The moment a player becomes honest about where they are today is the moment their career starts moving forward.
The biggest NRLW recruitment mistakes are rarely football mistakes.
They are mindset mistakes.
And mindset mistakes can cost years of development.
The NRLW Recruitment Mistakes That Destroy Careers
One of the biggest NRLW recruitment mistakes players and parents make is chasing money too early.
The biggest contract is not always the best contract.
Development creates value.
Value creates contracts.
Contracts do not create value.
This is one of my biggest frustrations in the game today.
At Excel Sports, we do not chase money. We chase long-term success.
I can name multiple high-profile players who took less money initially to join the right club, the right coach and the right development environment. Those same players later became some of the highest-paid players in the game because they built genuine value first.
Where you are in your career matters.
A player with five years of experience may still be nowhere near their peak.
The focus should always be on development, not dollars.
The biggest NRLW recruitment mistakes often happen when players and parents focus on today's money instead of tomorrow's opportunity.
Choosing The Wrong Club
Another major NRLW recruitment mistake is choosing the wrong club.
Following friends.
Following family.
Following influencers.
Following hype.
Following promises.
I have seen players follow sisters, cousins, teammates and family friends into environments that were completely wrong for their development.
Parents often insist their daughter is a halfback, a hooker or a fullback.
The reality is that coaches are paid to identify where a player can add the most value.
Trust the people who do this every day.
Your goal is not to prove a position.
Your goal is to build a career.
Ignoring Coaching Quality
Too many people follow promises.
"I can get you into this club."
"I can get you this contract."
"I can get you more money."
None of that matters if the coach cannot develop the player.
The best coaches are not focused on your strengths.
They focus on your weaknesses.
They identify what needs fixing.
They challenge you.
They make you uncomfortable.
They make you better.
That is what real development looks like.
At Excel Sports, we use pathways competitions such as Lisa Fiaola Cup and Tarsha Gale Cup to develop players properly.
The goal is not simply getting a contract.
The goal is creating players who can build long-term NRLW careers.
Focusing On Contracts Instead Of Development
A contract without development is worthless.
Development is everything.
Speed.
Agility.
Explosive starts.
Fitness.
Body shape.
Skill development.
Mindset.
Professional habits.
These are the things that create genuine value.
The contract is simply the reward.
Blaming Everyone Else
One of the most common NRLW recruitment mistakes is blaming everyone except the areas that need improvement.
Blaming the coach.
Blaming the manager.
Blaming politics.
Blaming the club.
When a player is not selected, parents often blame the manager first.
But the manager does not train.
The manager does not play.
The manager does not select teams.
Sometimes the answer is very simple.
The player needs to improve.
That is not criticism.
That is opportunity.
Instead of asking:
"Why didn't she get picked?"
Ask:
"What does she need to improve?"
That question changes everything.
The biggest NRLW recruitment mistakes are rarely football mistakes.
They are mindset mistakes.
The NRLW Recruitment Mistakes Clubs Notice Immediately
One of the biggest NRLW recruitment mistakes players make is assuming clubs only watch what happens on game day.
They don't.
Clubs watch everything.
They watch how you train.
They watch how you communicate.
They watch how you respond to setbacks.
They watch how you treat teammates.
They watch how you handle feedback.
They watch your attitude.
Poor Attitude Gets Exposed Quickly
I have said this for years.
The players who continue improving are the players willing to become uncomfortable.
They learn to love what they hate.
For most players, that means fitness.
That means extra effort.
That means accountability.
That means responsibility.
The best players learn to stand on their own two feet.
They don't rely on others to motivate them.
They don't wait for someone else to push them.
They take ownership of their own development.
That is where attitude starts.
Go to our SPRINT - ACCELERATION Blueprint page.
Entitlement Is One Of The Fastest Ways To Go Backwards
Entitlement is dangerous.
It can come from representative teams.
It can come from social media attention.
It can come from family influence.
It can come from believing you've already made it.
The reality is simple.
Every season starts at zero.
Every player must earn their position.
Every player must earn their opportunities.
The players who continue developing are usually the players who remain humble enough to understand there is always another level.
Poor Fitness Always Gets Found Out
Fitness never lies.
You can hide many things in football.
You cannot hide fitness.
Eventually the game exposes it.
Eventually training exposes it.
Eventually the standards expose it.
Players who consistently invest in their fitness create opportunities for themselves.
Players who avoid fitness usually find themselves falling behind.
The game is becoming faster.
The standards are becoming higher.
Fitness is no longer optional.
It is a requirement.
Coachability Matters More Than People Think
Being coachable does not mean agreeing with everything.
Being coachable means being willing to learn.
Being willing to adapt.
Being willing to improve.
The players who improve the fastest are usually the players who accept feedback, apply feedback and continue working on weaknesses.
The players who resist feedback often become their own biggest obstacle.
Attendance And Commitment Matter
Clubs notice attendance.
Clubs notice effort.
Clubs notice commitment.
Sometimes players are genuinely injured.
Sometimes players are genuinely unwell.
That is football.
But commitment is still visible.
Supporting teammates.
Being present around the group.
Showing interest in team success.
Those things matter.
They demonstrate character.
They demonstrate commitment.
They demonstrate culture.
Professionalism Is A Daily Habit
Professionalism is not something you switch on during game day.
Professionalism is how you prepare.
Professionalism is how you recover.
Professionalism is how you communicate.
Professionalism is how you represent yourself.
Professionalism is doing the right thing consistently.
The best professionals are usually the most reliable people in the club.
Social Media And Team Culture Matter
Many players underestimate how closely clubs monitor behaviour.
Social media tells clubs a lot about a person.
So does team culture.
The players who build strong careers are usually the players who get along with everyone.
They avoid unnecessary drama.
They avoid gossip.
They avoid negativity.
They focus on improvement.
They focus on the team.
They focus on their role.
Strong culture creates strong careers.
Excuses Never Create Opportunities
One thing I have learned throughout my career is that excuses rarely solve problems.
The players who improve ask better questions.
Instead of asking:
"Why am I not getting opportunities?"
They ask:
"What do I need to improve?"
That question changes everything.
Why Clubs Can Teach Skill But Not Attitude
Clubs can improve football skills.
Clubs can improve game awareness.
Clubs can improve fitness.
Clubs can improve confidence.
Clubs can improve decision-making.
What clubs struggle to teach is attitude.
Attitude comes from the player.
And that is why attitude remains one of the most valuable qualities any player can possess.
Because talent may get you noticed.
But attitude determines how long you stay.
Get to know John Fadel and visit our about John Fadel page.
Final Thoughts From John Fadel
Throughout every article we write, you will continue to hear us talk about our core values:
**Family. Faith. You.**
These are not just words.
They are the foundation of everything we do at EXCEL Sports.
Family
The role of family is simple.
Support your child.
Guide your child.
Listen to your child.
Provide honest advice.
Keep them humble.
Keep them hungry.
Allow them to voice their concerns.
Allow them to make mistakes and learn from them.
Your role is not to live their journey for them.
Your role is to support them through their journey.
Faith
Faith means different things to different people.
For me, my faith is at the centre of everything I do.
It guides my decisions.
It shapes my values.
It keeps me accountable.
Regardless of your beliefs, faith is your conscience.
It is your ability to distinguish right from wrong.
It is your ability to remain grounded when things are going well and resilient when things are not.
Faith provides perspective.
And perspective is powerful in rugby league and in life.
You
The most important part of Family, Faith and You is exactly that.
You.
Because if you are not right, nothing else works.
Be honest with yourself.
Be realistic with yourself.
Understand where you are today.
Understand where you need to improve.
Take responsibility for your development.
Take responsibility for your attitude.
Take responsibility for your future.
Development Before Contracts
One of the biggest NRLW recruitment mistakes is focusing on contracts before development.
We have spoken about this throughout every article in this series.
Contracts arrive at the right time.
Development comes first.
Value comes second.
Contracts come third.
Opportunities follow.
Over the years, I have lost players because I refused to rush their journey.
Some families wanted contracts immediately.
Some families believed their daughter was ready.
Some families listened to outside opinions.
That is their choice.
But our philosophy has never changed.
We are not trying to create one-year players.
We are trying to create ten-year players.
Long careers.
Sustainable careers.
Successful careers.
Long-Term Careers Over Short-Term Success
One of the greatest challenges with young athletes is patience.
Talent is exciting.
Potential is exciting.
But neither guarantees success.
The players who succeed are usually the players who stay patient long enough to develop properly.
They trust the process.
They trust the work.
They trust the people around them.
Most importantly, they continue improving when nobody is watching.
That is what creates longevity.
Build Value Before Chasing Opportunity
Everything comes back to value.
Build value first.
Improve your attitude.
Improve your mindset.
Improve your fitness.
Improve your skills.
Improve your professionalism.
Improve your leadership.
The opportunities will follow.
The contracts will follow.
The recognition will follow.
The players who last the longest are usually the players who take ownership of their own journey.
They do not wait for someone else to create opportunities for them.
They create opportunities through their actions.
Final Message
At the end of the day, if football does not work out exactly the way you planned, you should still be able to look in the mirror and say:
"I gave it everything I had."
No excuses.
No regrets.
No shortcuts.
Just effort.
Just commitment.
Just growth.
Earn your opportunities.
Earn your value.
Earn your career.
If this sounds like the journey you want to be part of, contact us at EXCEL Sports.
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