Newcastle Jets recruit Sheridan Gallagher proving viability of code hoping for elite women athletes

Newcastle Jets recruit - and NRLW player - Sheridan Gallagher is proving code hoping is a viable option for elite women athletes looking to earn a full time income.

The sports are vastly different but code hopper Sheridan Gallagher hasn’t had to make any drastic changes to her fitness regimen – making code hopping from NRLW to ALW an attractive move for women athletes looking for a full-time income.

With A-League’s Women’s running from late October to April and NRLW from July to early October it presents a unique opportunity for versatile athletes like Gallagher.

It means those capable of playing in both codes would be paid all year round.

It could open the door for athletes to ditch their part-time jobs and focus solely on their sport.

The minimum wage for NRLW players this past season was $34,000. ALW players’ starting wage is $25,000 despite the longer 35 week season.

Gallagher’s professional sporting career started in the ALW, with the Western Sydney Wanderers back in 2021.

She made 21 appearances before her contract ended in 2023 and was also the captain of the Young Matildas at the 2022 U20s World Cup.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 03: Sheridan Gallagher talks with Jets coach Ryan Campbell. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

She signed with the Knights and was a key part of their premiership winning squad for the 2023 season. Gallagher is contracted to the club until the end of the 2025 season.

“I just thought I’d try my hand at something else and fortunately enough I was half decent at it and it has taken me on a really nice career path and something I’m super grateful for,” Gallagher said.

The Knights finished third but were knocked out in the semi-final this season.

Gallagher, 22, had not given any thought to returning to the ALW until the Jets approached her a few weeks ago.

“I thought it’d be a good opportunity to give back to a town that’s given me so much and inspire some of the young kids coming through,” Gallagher said.

The deal was struck just two weeks out from the season starting – Gallagher getting a football back her feet just a week out from her opening round game against her former club Wanderers.

Aside from the obvious – one sport mostly requiring carrying the ball in your hands and the other using your feet – rugby league and football are very different. Football is a lot of constant running, rugby league requires a lot of short, sharp bursts of energy. The tackles in rugby league are much more physical than football.

Sheridan Gallagher in action for the Knights. Credit: NRL Images.

Despite all these changes Gallagher said she hadn’t had to alter her training schedule.

“It’s a different energy system, the way football and rugby league are played are two very different things but I think they complement each other and the way I train is only going to benefit me.

“I’m still lifting the same, on the field I just run a bit more, but I haven’t had to change anything myself.”

Gallagher, who also works full time as a teacher’s aide, said being able to have an income year around makes code hopping attractive.

“There are a few girls who go from league to rugby and rugby to league but I think I’m the only one that’s done league to football at the present time but I can’t see an issue with it,” she said.

“Hopefully one day we can be full time in sport, but while the opportunity is there for us to play both I can’t see why it is a problem and I can’t see why more young girls out there can’t do it either.”

Gallagher got her first minutes back on the park in round one against her former club Wanderers. The match ended in a 2-2 draw – Gallagher playing close to 20 minutes in front of an appreciative home crowd.

Jets will hit the skies this weekend and head to Perth to play Glory at 6pm on Sunday.