Falling standards at the 0-4 Canberra Raiders expose big NRLW issue

The Raiders’ NRLW season is in free fall after four rounds, prompting a savage spray from their coach. But it highlights an issue in the women’s game no one is talking about.

Raiders falling standards expose big NRLW issue

Canberra’s NRLW players have been given a stern warning about falling standards after revelations a group showed up late to a recovery session amid the Raiders’ shocking start to the 2025 season.

Coach Darrin Borthwick aired his frustrations following Canberra’s 26-0 loss to North Queensland last Saturday night, when he questioned the commitment of some of his players.

It’s emerged that, the day after their 42-12 Round 3 loss to Parramatta at GIO Stadium, a group of players were late to a 7.45am recovery session on Sunday.

While the issue was addressed with the team the following day, the Raiders fell to their fourth straight defeat of the season in Townsville, on the back of a 58 per cent completion rate.

The Raiders have now been outscored 164 to 32, and a fed-up Borthwick took aim at a group of his players, who he said were just happy to be there and weren’t showing up for their teammates with full commitment on the field.

“I feel sorry for some of these girls who are just turning up, week in, week out, to defend stupid errors and mistakes that zap so much energy out of you,” Borthwick said.

“One positive I suppose is people like this (Raiders co-captain Simaima Taufa), they just keep turning up and putting their body on the line each week. And then there’s some that aren’t turning up and, to be honest, they’re just happy to be here. I’m over it.”

It ignited questions within the NRLW around what was going wrong in Canberra, who have a good roster and a handful of representative players.

The Raiders’ season is in free fall, with zero wins after four games. Picture: Getty Images

Whispers soon circulated that a group had been out drinking midweek prior to the game, claims the club have vehemently denied.

But it also raises an issue NRLW clubs are constantly battling while the game is in a semi-professional stage.

In the struggle for balance, how much is fair to expect of athletes who aren’t paid a living wage from the game?

Raiders coach Darrin Borthwick took aim at his players after their loss to the Cowboys. Picture: Getty Images

HAVES AND HAVE NOTS

Some NRLW players earn a good living from the game, but most work jobs on the side to supplement their income between the start of the pre-season in May to the end of September.

Minimum wage in the NRLW this season is $41,800 (rising to $46,200 next year and $50,600 in 2027), so most have to juggle work and club responsibilities to make rent and put food on the table.

The players who do it best are the elite of the elite. State of Origin and Jillaroos stars, as well as the players pushing to get to the same level.

They’re not paid as such, but they act like full-time professional athletes. They prioritise sleep, make sure they get the right nutrition, they do extras on top of compulsory sessions, and live their lives as if it’s their job year-round.

Even when it’s not.

“If I could buy another 50 of her, I would,” Borthwick said of Taufa after the NSW and Australian forward had made 45 tackles and nine runs for 80m against the Cowboys.

“If half the group could take the passion that she does into a game, our results would be a hell of a lot better.”

The issue facing NRLW clubs is how to get an equal standard from players who don’t have the time or capacity to put in the same amount of effort as their elite teammates.

Jillaroos star Simaima Taufa has been a rare shining light for the Raiders in 2025. Picture: Getty Images

WHY NRLW DON’T PLAY WEEKNIGHTS

By RLPA guidelines, NRLW players can’t train on weekdays before 4pm to allow everyone in the squad to earn a living outside the game.

Travel for games needs to be as close as possible to game time, so they’re not forced to take unnecessary time off work.

If they have to travel to an away game on a Friday before 4pm, the club must apply for exemptions, and players are compensated for the work hours they lose.

For this reason we don’t see Thursday or Friday night games often, with six games crammed into the weekend so players are free to return to work on Mondays.

It makes for a clunky schedule with clashing games, but there is no way around it while the game is semi-professional.

WHEN WILL THINGS CHANGE

The NRLW could be professional in 2028 or shortly thereafter when the new broadcast agreement comes into effect.

The NRL has not yet laid out a concrete timeline, nor confirmed any plans for expansion before then.

Professionalism in the NRLW will mean guidelines around travel, game day and training times will be relaxed.

Teams can train in the mornings, which most players crave, freeing up their nights to spend however they like.

From a draw perspective, games could then also be scheduled on weeknights to give the NRLW clear air with broadcasters at a more viewer friendly 6pm Thursday night timeslot, or a return of Monday night football.

Zahara Tamara will return at halfback for the Raiders in Round 5. Picture: Getty Images

WHAT ABOUT THE RAIDERS

For now, Canberra and the Wests Tigers are the only two teams without a win this season.

The Tigers have been brave, though, and pushed Cronulla to within four points despite mass injuries in round 4.

This week, Borthwick resisted the urge to make mass changes to his team to face Newcastle in Magic Round on Sunday.

Co-captain Zahara Temara returns at halfback, which will be a boost to their attack, but it will be interesting to see how they handle the pressure as they hunt for their first win to get off the bottom of the ladder.

Over the next few weeks they face the Knights in Newcastle, followed by the Broncos in Canberra, the Warriors in New Zealand and the Bulldogs at Belmore.

Hopefully Borthwick’s post-match rocket is enough to shock them into form.

Originally published as Falling standards at the 0-4 Canberra Raiders expose big NRLW issue