Brisbane Roar Players Had To Make A Stand Over Pay Dispute, Team Captain Says

W-League side Brisbane Roar captain Clare Polkinghorne insisted that "it was important players made a stand during last month’s contract dispute but admits none ever considered walking out on the club," according to the AAP. More than a dozen Roar players, including Polkinghorne, "were asked to take pay cuts on increased deals" they signed under former Managing Dir Daniel Cobb just days before he was sacked in August. Within a week the impasse was resolved, with Professional Footballers Australia stating current Managing Dir Mark Kingsman "had honoured the original contracts." Polkinghorne: "It was important (to make a stand), but we also knew the club wanted the best for us. We wanted to do the right thing by the club too and we did work together." Polkinghorne felt recent wage improvements in netball and cricket "would help push football to further close the gap between salaries of female players and their male counterparts." She said, “The other codes are putting more pressure on, which is good" (AAP, 11/1).