NRLW players to put pride before personal risk in 2023 All Stars clash

Some of the game’s best women’s players will risk their 2023 NRLW contracts to play Indigenous and Maori All Stars next month, writes PAMELA WHALEY.

Pamela Whaley

@pamelawhaley

2 min read

January 25, 2023 - 2:27PM

The NRL All Star game is under three weeks away. Picture: NRL Imagery

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Cultural pride will outweigh personal risk for a group of 38 women’s players who have been named for the Maori and Indigenous All Stars game in Rotorua next month.

The beloved annual contest will be played in the foreground of a bitter CBA negotiation between the NRL and the players union, which has left all female players without income insurance or employment contracts for 2023.

Last week Newcastle fullback Tamika Upton announced she would be unavailable for the Indigenous side, having been spooked by notable injuries within the playing group. Maori star and Dally M winner Raecene McGregor is also unavailable after suffering an MCL injury at training. It will be a six to eight week injury and she’ll miss the first four rounds of the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership season with North Sydney.

A close call with McGregor, the game’s current best player, has left many others questioning whether or not to risk their livelihood to play – confronted with an unfair choice between honouring their culture and risking a 2023 NRLW contract if they should suffer a long-term injury.

Newcastle premiership winner Tamika Upton has already pulled out. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

On Wednesday, Maori coach Keith Hanley named a squad of 20 players, while Indigenous coach Ben Jeffries named a squad of 18. It comes amid private doubts from sections of the game that the contest would even go ahead in a fortnight.

“This game means a hell of a lot to the girls. I know for the Indigenous girls, I can’t speak for the Maori girls, and I imagine it would be very similar, but the first thing they look for is the date of All Stars,” says Jeffries, who will also be coach of the North Queensland NRLW side in 2023.

“They’re anticipating and wanting to be selected, but that’s one major date they put on their calendar wanting to be a part of.

“I’ve had one player pull out [Upton]. I understand and empathise with her decision and totally get it. Unless they’re bringing the game into disrepute I back the players no matter what, and everyone has different circumstances.

“At this point in time we’ve named our squad…Everyone on that list wants to play. Everyone on that list is insured as well.”

Women's Indigenous All Stars coach Ben Jeffries supports whatever decision his players make. Picture: NRL Imagery

CODE Sports understands that players will be given a small fee to be a part of the All Stars camp, including the match payment, and that insurance will cover any potential injuries and rehabilitation.

However, with no NRLW contracts signed, there will be no compensation for loss of earnings. Any long-term injury would jeopardise a player’s ability to land an NRLW contract once the CBA is finalised.

For the good of the playing group, Jeffries wants it resolved before the All Stars contest or it risks detracting from what is one of the most special games on the NRL’s calendar.

“It’s a very dynamic space at the moment. It’s very exciting but hopefully this gets resolved fast because it’s frustrating clubs but it’s certainly frustrating the players and I can empathise with what they’re going through at the moment,” he said.

“They’re in a very hard position.”