NRL 2023: Review to upskill rugby league’s accredited player agents

NRL wants player managers to be scrutinised and educated like agents in a high-profile US sport as it aims to introduce background investigations and compulsory seminar attendance.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo speaks to the media during a press conference at Rugby League Central on March 10, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

It’s time for NRL player agents to smarten up — like their American counterparts.

The NRL is set to launch a wide-ranging review of the game’s accredited agent’s scheme with player managers to be told to upskill and educate.

NRL management is looking to replicate the US’ stringent qualification system to become a qualified sports agent.

The overhaul will include managers having to complete professional development courses to better guide their clients.

There are currently around 200 managers with the NRL concerned at the ease that many were granted accreditation.

The review’s ultimate aim would be to “create a system where the game has well qualified and credentialed people”, according to an NRL insider.

There are internal concerns that the NRL offers few barriers to become a player manager.

“Some managers just do the transaction around a player contract but they’re not actually doing their job of helping the player plan for their post-playing career and supporting them,” one club CEO said.

“There needs to be a higher barrier for entry to become a manager. Many of them are excellent and experienced, others are cowboys.”

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo says some players are just not doing enough. Picture: Getty Images

The NRL may reduce that number although the review’s main focus would be ensuring managers — and potential managers — have additional professional development and appropriate qualifications and experience. Less managers would mean better quality, say NRL insiders.

One source close to the NRL said: “The number of agents may remain, just the skills and requirements to remain accredited will change.

“(Managers) would need to continue their professional development and have appropriate qualifications, skills and experience and relevant training in the fields and continuing professional education.”

The NFL player agent system in America is strict. NFLPA requirements include:

Undergraduate and postgraduate degree (Masters or Law) from an accredited college or university or at least seven years of negotiating experience.

Authorisation to perform a background investigation and compulsory attendance at a two-day virtual seminar plus an additional day for administration of the examination.

NRL clubs would be reminded — after the review is completed — that dealing with unaccredited agents could lead to sanction, possibly a fine.

Another source said: “You can’t ‘de-accreditate’ agents but what you can do is make sure that the skill set that is required is increased to make it more difficult to get accreditation. That would lift the standards, which everyone benefits from.”

The NRL wants to adopt a similar model to that of America where the player agent system is very strict. Picture: Getty Images

There could be a transition period between the old and new system. The review — including the new criteria — hasn’t yet begun but will commence sometime through the season.

“Given the important role they play in the industry as the individual bargaining agent for the players, a recommendation that would benefit them, and the industry, is ongoing improvements to professional development for our current and future agents,” RLPA chief executive Clint Newton.

“We want to ensure as many people in the game have access to the best professional development tools as possible, just like players.”

Newton said the NRL was still to act on a 2021 review into player agents and accreditation process.

“That review, along with a number of recommendations, is still sitting with the NRL and really ready to be actioned,” Newton said.