Should You Trust Your Coach? The Truth About NRLW Development
- John Fadel
- Mar 20
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 20
Should you trust your coach with your child’s development in a system like rugby league?
Or is the bigger question…
should you trust your coach with your child’s mindset?
Because that’s what most people miss.
A coach doesn’t just develop skill…
they shape attitude, confidence, and behaviour — sometimes without anyone even realising.
And here’s the truth…
Not every coach is there to develop your child.
Some are there to win games.
Some are there to pick favourites.
And some simply don’t understand rugby league development — especially female development — at all.
And if you’re not asking the right questions…
your child can fall behind right in front of you… without you even knowing it.
And one of my biggest pet hates at Excel Sports…
is wasted years.
WHAT PARENTS GET WRONG - Trust your coach NRLW
Most parents believe that if their child is selected… they must be developing.
That’s not always true.
Selection does not equal development.
Being part of a team does not guarantee:
skill development
confidence growth
long-term progression
And this is where it comes back to the real question…
👉 should you trust your coach NRLW pathways based on results alone?
Because most parents choose a club based on:
the name
how big the club is
or how strong the team looks
But the real decision should be:
👉 who is coaching your child… and are they right for where your daughter is at?
Every player is different.
Some players need:
pure development
repetition
confidence building
Others need:
stronger players around them
higher intensity
more competition
And this is where experience matters.
Because sometimes…
a player who hasn’t come out of their shell yet
is better off in a team where they are:
working harder
touching the ball more
building confidence
Not standing in a strong team… watching others carry the load.
PLAYING VS DEVELOPING
Playing… and developing… are not the same thing.
A player can play every week…
and still not improve.
Real development is:
repetition of fundamentals
correct coaching
understanding the game
position-specific training
That’s development.
WHERE THE SYSTEM STARTS TO BREAK
This is where the system breaks.
Some coaches:
pick players based on relationships
prioritise results over development
lack experience in female pathways
And that creates a massive gap.
Because the female game requires:
different development structures
different physical preparation
different progression models
THE FUTURE OF THE GAME
Parents need to understand where the game is heading.
The NRLW is evolving fast.
Positions are changing.
A prop used to be:
big
heavy
purely physical
Now?
Props are becoming:
more mobile
more skill-based
more athletic
In the next 5 years…
you’ll see props that are:
leaner
ball-playing
strong through the core
built for movement and speed
The game is evolving — just like the men’s game did.
And if development doesn’t evolve with it…
players get left behind.
WHAT REAL NRLW DEVELOPMENT LOOKS LIKE
Real NRLW development is not random.
It follows a pathway.
👉 Fundamentals first:
passing
tackling
positioning
👉 Then structured progression:
fitness routines
speed
agility
repetition
👉 Then advanced game awareness:
decision-making
positional play
game understanding
From:
Lisa Fiola → Tasha Gale → Harvey Norman → NRLW
Each stage must build on the last.
LISA FIOLA (FOUNDATION)
This is where everything starts.
Perfect the fundamentals
Build fitness habits
Develop speed, agility, and core strength
Build a strong team culture
Everyone should feel equal.
You are judged on:
👉 your effort
👉 your development
👉 your performance
TASHA GALE (PROGRESSION)
Now you build on that base.
Increase intensity
Improve decision-making
Strengthen positional awareness
HARVEY NORMAN (FINAL PRODUCT)
This is where players are prepared for NRLW.
High performance
Consistency
Readiness
Now it’s up to the player to be seen.
WHEN TO QUESTION THE ENVIRONMENT
Parents and players need to start asking better questions.
Is your child:
improving every week?
being coached… or just selected?
challenged… or just comfortable?
Because this is where favourites get exposed.
They’re getting game time…
but they’re not getting better.
They’re building bad habits.
If the answer is no…
👉 it’s time to rethink the environment.
CONCLUSION
So should you trust your coach?
👉 Trust what you see.
Development is visible.
The right environment will always show it.
And like I always say…
don’t waste that year.
Because many female athletes…
waste two to three years before they realise:
👉 they’re just a number.
Build your value.
Earn your position.
Make clubs want you.
Make them chase you.
Because when they can see real development…
they invest in it.
And at Excel Sports…
we take that guesswork away.
Read more about our Pathways:
Mindset ( powerful insight and i reccommend player and parents read this:
Do i need a player agent
Or how to prepare for Lisa Fiola and Tarsha Gale
Contact us at EXCEL Sports
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