Pelite keeping options open with NRLW contracting period ahead

Evania Pelite has a desire to remain at the Titans this season but said players will keep their options open ahead of an expected signings frenzy for the NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership’s sixth year.

The NRLW contracting window is not yet open despite the financial terms of the first-ever women’s collective bargaining agreement announced by the NRL and RLPA last week.

Player contracts won’t be officially drawn up until the finer details of the CBA is signed off but the financial terms agreement has at least given clubs an idea of their upcoming spending limits.

Clubs will have a $900,000 salary cap in 2023 with that figure to rise to $1,518,000 by 2027, while the expansion of four additional NRLW teams has opened the door for a flurry of player movement.

Pelite, who has made a successful transition from a career in rugby sevens to rugby league, was keeping her options open but indicated her priority was to stay on the Gold Coast.

She expected her teammates and opponents to follow a similiar path. 

“Having those conversations now I want to end up at the right club that will improve my footy,” Pelite said at a Hostplus announcement in Queensland.

“That’s my main goal this year, to just improve as a player. I do love the Gold Coast Titans, I’ll openly admit that, they’ve been great and supported me on and off the field.

“Ideally that’s where I’d like to end up, for my third season there and they’re aware of that.

"I’ve had a lot of conversations with Murph (coach Karyn Murphy) and she's been incredible so far.

"Steve (Mitchell), Dennis (Watt) and a lot of the board members at the Titans... they’ve been really helpful as well, so having those conversations and keeping it open has been really good for me.

“It’s a big win for the women’s game, the opportunity to have those conversations. Hopefully players aren’t too far off securing a contract and a little bit of security in the BMD Premiership season as well.”

The Titans will already need to replace one international star with Georgia Hale following her partner Sam Lisone to the UK and signing with Leeds. 

Under the terms of the financial agreement, the minimum wage for each player in 2023 will be set at $30,000 with each contract averaging around $37,500 per player in a squad of 24. 

Players will be signed to 12-month contracts as part of the agreement, with clubs in a position to offer multi-year contracts from 2023.

The contracting window, once opened, will close on May 24.