EXCLUSIVE: Ruan Sims joins calls for NRLW to fix broken contract system after Maddie Studdon debacle
Ruan Sims has called for the NRLW to implement a June 30 deadline after the ugly contract saga that resulted in Maddie Studdon's attempt to join the Warriors being blocked.
Unlike the men's competition, the NRLW does not have a set mid-season transfer deadline, leaving many in the game confused about the regulations around player movement.
Confusion over the guidelines has been heightened in recent days after Studdon, a former NSW halfback, was denied the opportunity to ink a deal with the Warriors.
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The 30-year-old has been playing in the NSW Harvey Norman women's competition with the Illawarra Steelers this season, having not locked in a top 24 contract with any club.
However, she did get the call up to feature in one game for the Dragons in round six.
That match has since become a contentious talking point as it is understood to be an influential factor in why she was blocked from joining the Warriors.
Maddie Studdon of the Dragons is tackled by Chantay Kiria-Ratu of the Sharks. Getty
According to the Warriors, the club's request to sign Studdon as an injury replacement player was denied by the league as she was not a like-for-like player at the time.
But the troubling contract situation has now left Studdon without an avenue to play for the remainder of this season unless their is an injury in the halves at the Dragons.
Sims said the issue was raised last season in a bid to resolve any complications occurring throughout the 2025 season, but no changes have been made.
Roosters coach John Strange urged the league to look further into the processes involved with roster changes, a call which Sims echoed.
"When we are talking all the time about injuries, suspensions, depth of rosters ... the two-pronged approach is to increase the size of the roster and make sure we have some parameters that teams and coaches can work within," she said on Wide World of Sports' NRLW Weekly.
Maddie Studdon walks to the team photo during the New South Wales State of Origin media opportunity in 2021. Getty
"It is not just what it happening with Maddie, but there are also sometimes issues with the development players that they can't take them up.
"It's very nuanced and I understand that however, if we are looking to make sure we are putting a good product out on the field, this stuff should've all been ready and locked away for this year.
"The NRL and the RLPA have to look at that for next year and something must be in place, not something has to, it must be in place for next year.
"What this is now doing is it reduces what the Warriors can do, it reduces what Maddie can do... and I think she deserves the opportunity to be able to go and play in an NRLW club."
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In 2025, all NRLW clubs were required to submit their top 24 roster before the season started, along with four development players who can play each week if needed.
Those development players must be approved by the NRL's salary cap management team, with an application required to keep them in the squad if injuries occur.
Kezie Apps and Maddie Studdon of NSW watch on during the presentation after the Women's State of Origin match in 2019. Getty
Yet, the blocking of players put forward to be promoted into the top-flight due to not being a "like-for-like" player continues to frustrate many.
"I would say that Emily Curtain (who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to an ACL injury) and Maddie Studdon are both very similar players, they are both halves," Sims said of the Warriors explanation.
"I find that a tough pill to swallow from the player side and club side of things.
"(Studdon) is in the system, the Warriors need a half and she needs to put her hand up to try and get a contract for next year.
"She is not playing football to stay in the Harvey Norman (NSW Women's Premiership) competition, she wants to play NRLW. I think that needs to be ironed out.
"The transfer window and all of that messiness needs to be (sorted), the development players - that needs to be really clear - and then also the squad size.
"If not, we are hamstringing players' abilities to show themselves on a big stage to then look for contracts going forward.
"It is frustrating for players, coaches, and I'm sure the NRL, because they have their reasoning for why they've done things. But I would just urge something to be in place."
