Just over a week since the NRL announced that the women’s premiership will be postponed until early next year due to COVID, I’m still extremely disappointed.
When it came to the NRLW, the NRL was caught between a rock and a hard place.
A hub environment would not have been fair or appropriate for several reasons.
Let’s begin with the giant elephant in the room: coronavirus.
Several women signed to NRLW clubs are from Sydney LGAs of concern. How difficult would it have been to get them exemptions to travel to Queensland, particularly given that the health advice suggests that New South Wales has not reached the peak of the virus yet.
Even if exemptions could have been given, it is neither fair nor appropriate to ask women to relocate for up to three months for a competition that only lasts six weeks.
Their pay is not that of full-time professional athletes, even though many of them have that commitment to their craft. Many NRLW players are primary caregivers for children, have jobs and lack the financial security to walk away from their work for three months.
Why the women’s competition cannot proceed, when every stop seems to have been pulled out to ensure that the men’s competition does, comes down to a more fundamental conversation we need to have about how to ensure that women are valued and paid appropriately for their commitment.
But it’s not really about what I think is fair and appropriate, is it? The players’ wants and needs are the most important consideration here.
According to reports from Katie Brown, the NRL conducted a player poll with NRLW players several weeks ago: “75 per cent voted relocation, that was ignored.”
I would be interested whether the number of players willing to relocate has changed from when that survey was conducted in the face of the evolving public health situation.
And while a majority may have been willing to relocate, what about the remainder? How would the competition plug a talent gap of 25 per cent?
When there were conversations earlier in the year about equalisation of talent, I argued that it would be unfair to ask athletes who are not full-time professionals to relocate “for the good of the game”. How is asking them to relocate any different?
But the conversations over the last couple of days have raised another important consideration.
Where was the athlete voice in the decision-making process?
Since the announcement about the postponement, players such as Ali Brigginshaw, Chelsea Lenarduzzi and Kennedy Cherrington have spoken out about how disappointed they are.
They aren’t disappointed about the postponement per se (well, they are), but about how the NRL handled it.
It’s clear there has not been enough conversation between the NRL and this playing group. It’s not enough to ask for feedback; you have to close the loop, and be open and transparent with the players about why decisions are being made.
Additionally, there is the question of payments for work already done to prepare for the season. For some women in precarious financial situations, or who have deferred work, it’s important to consider this when thinking about their pay cycle.
It’s here that the Rugby League Players’ Association (RLPA) has a really important role. There is an opportunity for them to work with the NRL towards a stronger position for the women’s game.
While postponement was the most appropriate option, the little things – and the free things – like communication could be done a lot better.
Ahead of 2022 and the “bumper season” promised by the NRL, there must be a meeting of the minds between the administration, the players and the RLPA, because at the moment there seems to be misalignment.
Next year will be the biggest year in women’s rugby league history. The plan is for two NRLW competition – one at the start of the year to address the 2021 postponement and then the planned season for 2022 – the All Stars fixture, State of Origin and the Rugby League World Cup.
But how do we provide our players with contract security? How do we manage their load, given many will not played footy in months and then are expected to go into a full calendar? What about players who need to relocate twice?
These all need to be considered.
As fans, it is easy to feel helpless in this situation, but we have a role to play too.
If you say you love and care about the women’s game, buy a membership and get along to games live when the competition goes ahead. Eyeballs and bums on seats go a long way in demonstrating interest. Do your part to show your commitment to the women’s game.
Another group that has an important role to play is the rugby league media. There have been calls for NRL players to be better advocates for the women’s game.
But a damn good start would be to see some of the male journalists involved in the game speak up on these important issues too.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Thanks also for your sound financial numbers. There is no way it would cost $15 million to make the NRLW happen but no where in my article did I suggest that it should go ahead in the current climate.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Yeah nah, because to make change in the world it requires input from men and women. Just like male voices are extremely important when it comes to issues of gender inequality, domestic violence and countless other issues. And I'm really sorry if men feel uncomfortable. Perhaps it's time to lean into that discomfort.
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
Pretty sure Alan Jones told you - repeatedly - in 2019 to vote for the little power hungry dictator, and since you believe Jones speaks nothing but the truth....
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
V'Landy's is an executive Chairman in all but name, so he is behaving like an executive Chairman. And, typically, executive Chairmen happily front conferences when there is good news to share, or want to look tough and firm...and throw the CEO the wolves when there is some negative news. Contrast that to the AFL, where Richard Goyder is clearly a Chairman, in name and action, so Gillon McLachlan is the one who is the public face.
Yeah nah
Guest
Then why single them out, Mary? Why make male journalists squirm uncomfortably about something that, according to you, has nothing to do with gender? It's this thinking that has demasculated males in our society at the point where they wouldn't dare stand up for themselves. And nobody should have any issue with anybody, male or female, who "aren't as interested in it". I believe female sport can do better than just telling people to like it and inferring mysogny if they don't. As you say, gender shouldn't matter. It's about the product. Fiscally speaking only, the NRL are bleeding $15 million per month to keep the sport running. It makes no sense, economic, political or otherwise, to double that huge outlay for a competition that only draws, at best, one sixth the interest. Just facts, no feelings.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
It's funny you raise that.... I've found this whole issue interesting through the year. In my view the CEO of an org should be front and centre, with the board taking a back seat. It seems to be happening in the opposite way with this administration. Yet in this circumstance, it seems to be Andrew Abdo taking the lead. Where is PVL?
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
Yup. And it's amazing we haven't heard from the Grand Panjandrum, Lord of all high, the great and glorious St. Peter on this? His ability to front the media for positive news and through Abdo under the bus for negative news is remarkable.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
I completely agree on your final point. In my view it was obvious that the competition was going to be postponed and that regardless of whether that exemption was sought or not wasn't going to change that. I think the point I am trying to make (perhaps poorly :laughing: ) is that a lot of the emotional/disappointed/upset views we are hearing from players right now I think could have been avoided if more appropriate communication was in place.
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
I think conducting the player survey was a silly move under the circumstances - and frankly, an unsurprisingly inept move by an increasingly ineptly run organisation. I agree on the point you raised above with Paul that if the NRL were prepared to fly up the NRLM family, then flying up the NRLW shouldn't have been too much of a financial imposition. On your final paragraph, I don't think the Qld govt revealing no exemption was sought means anything. I presume that the NRL probably crunched the numbers and logistics and concluded that there was no point running the comp in any event, so no need to consult with Qld to see if it could be run.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
I think we disagree on the slow and steady approach, Big Daddy. I really liked that we started small and focused on sustainability and quality of the competition. Even the introduction of two new teams - I probably would have done it next year and instead increased the number of rounds this year.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Mary, I get the sense the NRL have never taken the women's competition seriously . The fact that the first 3 competitions were lip service to keep them happy and increasing to six teams to be honest is a bit of a joke . I realise a lot of young girls probably can't handle the physicality of the game yet we see huge interest in the ladies of tag which hasn't progressed to the full rules game . It's just very disappointing.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Dave, thanks! I am glad I could pleasantly surprise you. I absolutely see where you are coming from. The transition is hard. What I would say in relation to your last point is that it is the RLPA and I hope they have a loud and powerful voice going forward so that they can represent these players.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Paul, I hear your second point. But it is hard to reconcile for the players that the NRLW is not taking place, when they see NRLM players being flown up to QLD. There were even rumours that the cars of the players were being driven up as late as 2 weeks ago.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Big Daddy, I think this points to some of the challenges in women's sport now. As I said, even if the NRL had the money to relocate all the players, how do you ask players to relocate on the wages they are currently being paid? It seems like way too big of an ask to me.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Thanks, Nat. I don's know the ins and outs of the broadcast agreement but it is a good point. I think there's a difference between asking for what is appropriate and asking for what the men are getting. I don't think the NRLW players want what the NRL players are getting - I think they just want a fair go!
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Thanks for the comment! I think my challenge is that a player survey was done asking the players for their view. There is no point in doing this if the feedback isn't taken into consideration and then the feedback loop closed. It's not necessarily about making the decision the players want, but communicating to them why the decision has been made and I think also demonstrating to them that there will be some deeper thinking about some of the challenges in the women's game. We have just seen the can kicked down the road now... I'll give an example that happened overnight. Andrew Abdo said that all options had been considered and there was no way for the NRLW to go ahead. Today the QLD Gvt has come out and said no exemption was sought. The players are cranky. There has been miscommunication here and I think speaking with the players might have helped calm some of the big feelings we are seeing at the moment.
Dave
Guest
Why would you compare a competition that was held in April with one taking place now given the current climate. C’mon man think You’re also comparing an organisation that is well known to be the best financed sporting code in the country and have the ability to throw money around pretty much at will
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
I'm one of your biggest fans, Mary, but I think you've missed the mark on this. It would have of course been nice if the players wishes were taken into account, but times call for decisive measures right now, not active consultation. It’s clear there has not been enough conversation between the NRL and this playing group. It’s not enough to ask for feedback; you have to close the loop, and be open and transparent with the players about why decisions are being made. Should each state premier consult with the public before putting cities into lockdown? Should they do referendum LGA by LGA to gather their views on what is the most appropriate form of lockdown? No. Tough calls need to be made, and they are easier to make when you don't consult all parties.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
It's funny when you compare the 2 codes in AFL and NRL in promoting their women's competitions. While the quality and basic skills are not as high as the men's competitions the AFL have left the NRL way behind in promoting and organising the individual competitions . The AFL have had to contend with Covid as well and have managed . Do the NRL have a person that runs the ladies competition or is it a fall back to Vlandys/Abdo. They aren't very transparent on either women's or men's competitions.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
It's just straight out sexism when generalised comments bagging people because they happen to be male are made . Just highlights gross hypocrisy in general, and a lack of respect towards men in particular.