Why I Became an NRLW Player Agent — The Story Behind Excel Sports and Why I Chose to Represent Female Rugby League Athletes
- EXCEL Sports Management
- Mar 7
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 7
People often ask me a simple question.
Why did you become an NRLW player agent?
The truth is, the answer has nothing to do with money, fame, or status.
The real reason I became an NRLW player agent is because I didn’t have much respect for the way many agents operated.
I saw a system that was broken.
Players were often treated like contracts instead of people.
Parents were left confused about how the system worked.
Young athletes were navigating professional environments with little guidance.
And when it came to female rugby league players, the support system was almost non-existent.
That was the moment I realised something.
If the system wasn’t going to change, someone needed to challenge it.
That is where the story behind Excel Sports truly began.
Why I Became an NRLW Player Agent
Before Excel Sports existed, I spent years observing the player management landscape.
To be completely honest, I wasn’t impressed.
Too many athletes were treated like assets instead of human beings.
Too many parents were left guessing about how pathways actually worked.
And too many young players were entering the system without anyone genuinely protecting their interests.
The role of an agent should never be about controlling athletes.
It should be about guiding them.
Protecting them.
And helping them build careers with clarity and confidence.
That belief is what pushed me to become an NRLW player agent.
Not to become part of the system.
But to build something different.
Why I Focused on Female Rugby League Instead of the Men’s Game
When I first decided to become an NRLW player agent, many people laughed.
Not quietly.
Openly.
People questioned why I would focus on female rugby league.
Some said:
“There’s no money in the women’s game.”
Others said:
“You’re wasting your time.”
But they were missing something important.
Female rugby league was not a risk.
It was the future.
The athletes were committed.
The talent was undeniable.
And the game was growing faster than most people realised.
While others dismissed the women’s competition, I saw opportunity.
Not financial opportunity.
But opportunity to build genuine pathways for female athletes who deserved professional support.
The Year Everything Changed — 2018
In 2018 the NRLW competition caught my EYE and my challenge officially launched.
For many people it was simply the beginning of a new league.
For me, it confirmed something I had believed for years.
Female rugby league was about to explode.
The interest was growing.
The talent pool was expanding.
And young girls across Australia and New Zealand were finally able to see a real pathway into professional rugby league.
I wanted Excel Sports to be part of that movement from the very beginning.
Not chasing headlines.
But building foundations.
Building Excel Sports From the Ground Up
Excel Sports didn’t begin with big sponsorship deals.
It didn’t begin with large player contracts.
And it certainly didn’t begin with recognition.
It began with belief.
Belief in female athletes.
Belief in the future of the NRLW.
And belief that athlete management could be done the right way.
While others laughed at the idea of focusing on women’s rugby league, I simply kept building.
Quietly.
Patiently.
Relentlessly.
Athlete by athlete.
Family by family.
Conversation by conversation.
Because real pathways aren’t built overnight.
They are built through trust.
Family • Faith • You
From the very beginning, Excel Sports was built on three simple values.
Family.
Faith.
You.
Family comes first.
Because behind every athlete chasing a dream is a family making sacrifices most people never see.
Early mornings.
Late nights.
Travel.
Financial pressure.
Emotional pressure.
Faith is the conscience behind every decision.
Doing what is right.
Even when it isn’t the easiest choice.
And “You” represents the athlete.
The person.
Not the contract.
Not the negotiation.
The human being.
What Does an NRLW Player Agent Actually Do?
Many people hear the term NRLW player agent but don’t fully understand what the role actually involves.
An NRLW player agent is responsible for much more than negotiating contracts.
A genuine player agent helps athletes navigate the entire professional environment.
This includes:
Guiding athletes through the female rugby league pathways system.
Supporting players through competitions such as the Lisa Fiaola Cup, Tarsha Gale Cup, and the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership.
Helping athletes prepare for opportunities in the NRLW competition.
Advising families about long-term career decisions.
And protecting young athletes from mistakes that could damage their future.
In reality, a true NRLW player agent is not simply a negotiator.
They are a mentor.
A guide.
And often a trusted advisor for both the athlete and their family.
The Growth of Female Rugby League Pathways
Today the NRLW continues to grow at an incredible pace.
More clubs.
More opportunities.
More development pathways.
Competitions like the Lisa Fiaola Cup and Tarsha Gale Cup are producing elite female rugby league players every year.
Young athletes across Australia and New Zealand now have a clearer pathway into professional rugby league than ever before.
And Excel Sports continues to support many of those athletes as they work towards their NRLW dreams.
Why I Still Believe in the Future of the NRLW
Looking back, becoming an NRLW player agent was never about building a business.
It was about building something that mattered.
Supporting athletes.
Protecting young players.
And helping female rugby league players build careers the right way.
The NRLW is still only in its early stages.
The game will continue to grow.
New stars will emerge.
And the pathways for female athletes will continue to expand.
Excel Sports will continue doing what it has always done.
Supporting athletes.
Building pathways.
And staying true to the values that started everything.
Family • Faith • You.
Player agents in rugby league must meet strict accreditation requirements through the Rugby League Players Association accredited agent program, which ensures athletes are properly represented and protected.
The National Rugby League Women’s competition continues to grow every season, creating new opportunities for female athletes across Australia and New Zealand.
The NRL continues to invest heavily in NRLW pathways and development programs designed to identify and develop the next generation of elite female players.
Competitions such as the Lisa Fiaola Cup junior development competition play an important role in identifying emerging female talent.
The Tarsha Gale Cup female pathway competition is one of the key stepping stones for athletes progressing toward the NRLW.
Many NRLW players gain experience through the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership, a semi-professional competition bridging the gap to the elite level.
Professional athlete management must also follow strict athlete wellbeing and representation standards to protect young players entering elite sport.
Always remember OUR CORE VALUES.
FAITH - FAMILY - YOU
without these values, you simply will struggle to EXCEL
EXCEL with US
AT EXCEL Sports
Contact us at EXCEL Sports
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