GOOD AGENT vs BAD AGENT — What Parents Must Know (2026)
- EXCEL Sports Management
- Feb 6
- 6 min read
A Special Feature by Founder & Director, John Fadel — EXCEL Sports Management
INTRODUCTION: WHY THIS MATTERS NOW
The biggest mistake in rugby league today — across the NRL, QRL, NSWRL and especially the NRLW — is players and parents choosing the wrong agent for the wrong reasons.
Some choose based on hype.
Some choose based on big-name players.
Some choose because a club hinted at “not signing you” if you don’t pick their preferred agent.
Some choose simply because they don’t know any better.
And then they pay the price.
I’ve seen careers built, but I’ve also watched promising careers fall apart because the wrong person guided the family at the most critical moment.
This blog is the truth players don’t hear — the truth parents wish they knew earlier — and the truth most agents won’t say publicly.
This is the article people will share.
This is the one clubs will read.
This is the one players will screenshot and send to their friends.
Because it’s real.
PART 1 — WHY PLAYERS ARE CONFUSED ABOUT AGENTS
Let’s start with the biggest issue:
Players and parents hear more misinformation than actual truth.
There are:
Bad experiences
Wrong advice
Ego-driven agents
Club pressure
Families copying what other families did
“Fashion agents” who take the hot prospects for clout
And people who promise the world but deliver nothing
Back in the old days, there were 10–12 agents total.They dominated the game with barely any rules involved.
Today?
The NRL has strict accreditation systems, but anyone with confidence, a shirt, and a half-decent Instagram bio thinks they’re a manager.
And too many families fall for it.
PART 2 — THE PROS OF HAVING A GENUINELY GOOD AGENT
1. Contract Knowledge & Protection
Contracts today are far simpler than the old days, but they still require expertise.
A good agent knows:
NRL vs NRLW vs NSWRL vs QRL clauses
Ratchet clauses
Hidden traps
Club obligations
Player welfare protections
Injury & rehab provisions
Release rules
And most importantly:
👉 They protect players from emotional decisions.
You decide the final move —
but a good agent ensures you never decide based on pressure or manipulation.
2. Protecting Players From Club Tactics
Let’s be clear:
Clubs will ALWAYS do what benefits the club.
They will paint a picture that suits them.
They will question your agent.
They will create doubt.
Some will even apply pressure directly to players.
But a quality agent:
Removes the pressure
Gives black-and-white facts
Removes emotion
Ensures fairness
Makes the club accountable
Not biased.
Not aggressive.
Just fair.
3. Removing Family Pressure and Guilt
Parents often feel they “owe the club” something.
Let me make this clear:
You owe them nothing.
You were selected because you’re good enough.
If you weren’t good enough, they wouldn’t take you.This is a business. Clubs chase players that help them win.
A good agent removes:
Fear
Guilt
Emotional obligation
Pressure to “stay loyal” because a coach said so
Your contract dictates your loyalty — not emotion.
4. Long-Term Pathways, Not Short-Term Hype
This is where most agents fail.
Anyone can talk.
Anyone can hype you up.
Anyone can say “I’ll get you into X club.”
A real agent:
Knows your long-term ceiling
Understands your weaknesses
Builds a structured pathway
Trains mindset
Prepares you for level-to-level progression
Speaks to the right club the right way
And importantly:
👉 Respects the current club first and last — even if there’s personal tension.
That’s professionalism.
5. Advocating for Fairness
A good agent isn’t anti-club.
A good agent isn’t anti-coach.
A good agent is pro-player fairness.
I teach players:
To understand their value
To respect genuine feedback
To recognise when a club is being fair
To know when to take emotion out of negotiations
Clubs respect agents who are fair and realistic.
They respect agents who communicate clearly.
They respect agents who are honest.
And that’s why they work with us.
6. The Biggest Weakness in the NRLW: Welfare
Let’s talk about it openly.
Some welfare officers and staff in the women’s space should not be around players.
Toxic behaviour.
Poor communication.
Players left in the dark.
No accountability.
No genuine care.
The welfare landscape is improving — but we are still far from where it needs to be.
A good agent will never let a player be mistreated silently.
7. Reputation, Media Guidance & Third-Party Opportunities
Players get humbled in the real world fast.
A good agent ensures:
Media is managed
Reputation is protected
Social media doesn’t destroy your career
You understand safety at parties, events, and public spaces
You’re guided through pressure moments
You know who to trust and who to avoid
Third-party sponsorships are realistic, not fantasies
This is where mentorship matters.
This is where experience counts.
PART 3 — THE CONS: HOW BAD AGENTS DESTROY CAREERS
❌ 1. They over-promise and under-deliver
These are the hype agents.
They say the right things.
They talk big.
They promise dreams.
And then nothing happens.
❌ 2. They don’t understand the NRLW system
THIS is the biggest problem right now.
Many male agents enter the NRLW space thinking it works like the NRL.
It doesn’t.
They get:
Pathways wrong
Coaching standards wrong
Player development wrong
Club culture wrong
Contract values wrong
They mislead players.
They push players too early.
They ruin confidence.
They manipulate families.
They chase hype.
And then the player suffers.
❌ 3. They chase status, not substance
Parents choosing agents because they manage big names…
It’s a disaster.
Your daughter or son needs an agent who:
Knows THEM personally
Knows their pros/cons
Knows what needs fixing
Knows how to get them to the next level
Not someone managing superstars.
Status doesn’t equal service.
❌ 4. Club-influenced agent pressure
Some clubs try to force players away from certain agents.
This is unethical.
This is wrong.
This is happening every single week — especially in the NRLW.
Players say:
“My coach told me not to sign with X.
”“We were told they don’t like working with your agency.”
“We were told they won’t pick us if we sign with you.”
Fear tactics.
Manipulation.
And guess what?
Those same clubs call us privately trying to sign someone else the next day.
❌ 5. Ego-driven agents
These are the ones who:
Love attention
Love media
Love being seen
Love appearing “powerful”
Meanwhile, their players get:
No development
No guidance
No mentoring
No communication
No accountability
Ego + management = disaster.
PART 4 — THE TRUTH ABOUT ISAAC MOSES (AND WHY MOST PEOPLE ARE WRONG)
Let’s finally address this.
People scream:
“Ban him!”
“He’s ruining clubs!”
“He’s too powerful!”
But let me ask you this:
Has anyone ever explained what he actually did wrong as an accredited agent?
Fans hate him because:
Their club lost a player
Their club needs someone to blame
Media needs a villain
But the PLAYERS he manages?
They love him.
They trust him.
They stand by him.
They know he does his job — and does it well.
If he was doing anything wrong, the NRL would have sanctioned him years ago.
They haven’t.
Why?Because he operates within the rules.
You only fear an agent when he’s good at what he does.
I’m not close to Isaac, but I respect operators who get results and stand firm.
PART 5 — WHEN YOU SHOULD NOT SIGN WITH AN AGENT
You don’t NEED an agent if:
You’re younger than the approved age
You’re still learning the basics
You have no clear pathway yet
You’re not sure you want elite-level commitment
Your family wants to explore development first
I scout. I guide.
But I do not push.
And I do not sign players unless:
They’re ready
They’re realistic
They want accountability
They want structure
They share our core values
Not everyone is for EXCEL Sports.
And EXCEL Sports is NOT for everyone.
PART 6 — FINAL WORD FROM JOHN FADEL
There are over 100 agents in the game today.
Only a handful understand:
Development
Pathways
Culture
Player management
NRLW structure
Contracts
Club politics
Strategy
Mentorship
Welfare
Before you sign with anyone — including me — please do your homework.
Ask every question.
Check their core values.
Look at their player development.
Look at their transparency.
Look at consistency over hype.
If an agent cannot speak honestly, clearly and openly with you — they should not be managing your child’s career.
Linked Blogs:
You can also get advise from the Games Heavy weights. The NRL and the RLPA.
If you’re a parent or player who wants clarity, structure, fairness and a realistic pathway:
📩 Contact EXCEL Sports when YOU are ready
📍 No pressure
📍 No hype
📍 No false promises
📍 Just truth, development and long-term results
EXCEL with US at EXCEL Sports
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