Cronulla Sharks slam NRL over poor handling of women’s comp

CRONULLA were the first NRL club to establish a women’s system, first to sign a woman to a full-time contract and their under-18s women’s team is leading the comp. But the NRL has overlooked the Sharks for the inaugural women’s competition.

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FEMALE staff members of the Cronulla Sharks broke down in tears when told that the club’s licence for inclusion in an inaugural women’s competition had been rejected by the NRL.

Widely-regarded as pioneers of the women’s game, the Sharks have been left shattered and furious by the decision, which has also cost the club $200,000 worth of sponsorship tied exclusively to a women’s NRL team.

Having also had their licence bid rejected, despite a thriving women’s league program, South Sydney CEO Blake Solly described the entire NRL process of inclusion as ‘shambolic’.

Ruan Sims was the first full-time female contracted player in Australia when the Sharks signed her. Picture: Brett Costello

“The decision is manifestly wrong and the process has been shambolic,’’ Solly said.

“We’re all just gobsmacked.’’

The NRL announced on Tuesday that the Sydney Roosters, St George-Illawarra, New Zealand and Brisbane had won the right to be part of a four — not six — team inaugural women’s competition.

The news was met with shock and disbelief by the Rabbitohs, with Solly forced to break the news to the club’s almost 400 players.

“The two (Dragons and Roosters) other clubs, God bless them, don’t have a pathway,’’ Solly said.

“We’d have 25 contracted players in the Harvey Norman NSW competition and our team won the grand final rematch 54-4 on the weekend in front of about 800 people at Redfern Oval.

“I asked the NRL in writing, what protection we’ll have for players currently at the club or developed by us — and nothing has come back.

“We’re aggrieved, but I feel enormously for the Sharks.’’

Cronulla Sharks boss Barry Russell has slammed the NRL over its handling of the women’s competition.

Gutted Sharks CEO Barry Russell said Cronulla had single-handedly raised the profile of the women’s game via;

• Becoming the first NRL club in history to contract a woman’s rugby league player, Jillaroos captain Ruan Sims. That number has increased to 34 over the past two years

• 800 female junior league and league tag players

• Five current Jillaroos

• Hosting rights for the 2017 Women’s World Cup

Such was the anticipation of being included in the first NRL women’s competition, the Sharks organised a photograph with what would’ve been their women’s league team sponsor, Hot Water Nurse and intended coach Brett Kimmorley.

Ruan Sims is a current Jillaroo who won’t be playing for the Sharks in the inaugural women’s competition despite a long association with the club. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“Geographical spread is why we missed out,’’ Russell said.

“Is that really where we’re at with the growth of women sport, by putting road blocks in?

“I can’t fathom, given between Cronulla and Souths combined we boast close to a 1,000 women playing junior league and League Tag, how we couldn’t fill two more teams.

“It’s 40 more women playing the game. What our club has done — and we won’t stop, mind you — to forge and break new ground for the women’s game exceeds anything the NRL asked of every club who took part in the bid process.

“It’s a stunning decision of which emotionally, has impacted so many of our talented women.’’

Former Jillaroo Allana Ferguson said the decision would be far-reaching.

“Both the women from Souths and Cronulla would be feeling confused and shattered,’’ Ferguson said.

“People are going to have move. Is the NRL or the club’s going to pay them enough money to travel to Wollongong or to the city, so that they don’t miss out on an extra three hours work in their other job?’’

NRL boss Todd Greenberg responded by encouraging club’s to continue with their female growth in the game.

“That’s their (Cronulla) emotional response and I understand their disappointment,” he said.

“Let me say we had six very good bids. The two teams that missed out have handled themselves very professionally despite some of their disappointment.

“There was a decision back in 1908 and JJ Giltinan was in my shoes today. He had to let down a few people. We’re at that point today, but the women’s game will grow enormously in the years ahead.”

Originally published as Cronulla Sharks slam NRL over poor handling of women’s comp