Wests Tigers: Jess Sergis, Kezie Apps sign for Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership campaign

They are two of the most dangerous players in women’s rugby league, wreaking havoc for the Jillaroos and NSW Blues. Now, Jess Sergis and Kezie Apps will join forces at the Wests Tigers.

They are two of the most prized signatures in women’s rugby league, wreaking havoc as a duo for the Jillaroos, NSW Blues and St George Illawarra Dragons NRLW teams in recent years.

Now, former Dally M medallists and good friends Jessica Sergis, 24, and Kezie Apps, 30, will take their sought-after talents to the Wests Tigers to feature in the 2022 Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership competition.

Kezie Apps and Jess Sergis. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Wests Tigers head of pathways Matt Betsey said it was a case of the “stars aligning” with a series of conversations across the weekend paving the way for the recruitment of the stars of the women’s game.

Sergis starred in the NSW Women’s Premiership last year with Helensburgh Tigers, scoring almost two tries a game as fullback.

Apps, the current NSW Blues Women’s State of Origin captain, has been one of the premier backrowers in the women’s game for a number of years.

Kezie Apps. Picture: Richard Wainwright

Betsey said the club had set their sights on the pair about July when their names were drafted on a recruitment wishlist following a review of the NRL club’s women’s programs.

However, it was the signing of 2021 Helensburgh Tigers coach Ryan Powell as the head coach last Friday which paved the way for the swift star-studded recruitment drive.

Recruitment conversations about the make-up of the Women’s Premiership squad took place between Betsey and Powell across the weekend, leading to the prized signatures.

“Jess and Kezie were really keen to jump on board so it was really pleasing it all happened relatively quickly,” Betsey said.

“It is really exciting for our program to have them around over the next 12 months.

“We got a really good crop of young girls coming through the program with all our players really striving to be better. They want to be more athletic, they want to be more skilful, they want to be the best footy players they can be.

“(Sergis and Apps) will be able to be the leaders on and off the field. They’re great role models for professionalism and hard work and they’ve also got great characters.”

The pair will be joined with NRLW star and NSW teammate Botille Vette-Welsh who re-signed with the club she has captained for the past three seasons.

Betsey said Wests Tigers were hopeful of being granted a NRLW licence for 2023 with the young players currently at the club are expected to be the future core of the inaugural squad.

He said the club be “all over” any opportunity to sign Apps and Kezie if a 2023 NRLW licence was granted to Wests Tigers.

Apps will feature for St George Illawarra Dragons and Sergis will take the field for the Sydney Roosters in the upcoming NRLW competition.

Originally published as Wests Tigers: Jess Sergis, Kezie Apps sign for Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership campaign