Oneata Schwalger up for mother of all tasks with Dragons in women’s NRL
NRL pioneer Oneata Schwalger has left her partner and sons in Melbourne to follow her dream, make her family proud and to inspire young women to have a go — no matter the roadblocks.
Women's sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Women's sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Stephanie Gilmore breaks new ground
- Tigers win women’s NRL touch crown
- Liz Cambage dunks in All Star match
IT’S the mother of all tasks — being a women’s NRL pioneer — but former rugby star Oneata Schwalger is more than up for the challenge.
One of five mothers with nine children between them in the St George Illawarra Dragons side preparing for the inaugural women’s competition, this former tradie and youth worker believes things worth having are worth fighting for — and she should know.
EMOTIONAL: Sam Bremner ‘living a dream’ with Dragons.
WHAT A STAR: Kezie was better than me says NRL star
Schwalger has left her partner and sons in Melbourne to follow her dream, make her family proud and to inspire young women to have a go, no matter the roadblocks they face.
The sister of All Blacks player John and cousin to Dragons player Tim Lafai has organised her mother to travel from New Zealand to look after sons Diego, 12, and Malaki, 10, while her partner spends three out of every four weeks working in mines outside Darwin and she relocates to Wollongong to train and play.
A day after arriving, the 33-year-old was organising five interviews for a job she can do to supplement her income before training each day.
MATILDAS TEEN: Has world at her feet
GUIDE: To upcoming WBBL season
“I’ll do any work, wait tables, work at a cafe, whatever needs to be done. I still need to pay bills,” Schwalger said.
“I knew if I didn’t do this, make it all work, I would regret it.
“I want to make my sons proud and teach them there are sacrifices that have to be made to get what you want. That you don’t want to live life with regrets and that sometimes you have to make things work for you.
“These things will build resilience in them.”
Schwalger says while she might be mild mannered off the field, that all changes when she’s on it.
“I can get pretty fired up,” she says. “I’m pretty passionate.’’
Schwalger is now part of the Dragons’ 22-strong roster after being identified by coach Daniel Lacey at a recent Australian championships, with the front rower a former Wallaroos star who has also played league with Samoa and was in the Jillaroos top 40 last year.
Fearful at first the opportunity to play in the inaugural league had passed her by, Schwalger says she will put her heart and soul into being a Dragon.
SCOOPED: Dragons poach three Maroons for women’s comp
BOYS’ CLUB: Female NRL refs blocked by old regime
“I am so passionate about this. I can’t wait,” she said.
“I want girls to see this, see me doing this, and realise that it’s never a straight line to success but that they can do anything if they put their mind to it.”