St George Illawarra add five more players to women’s NRL team
THERE is little question how much female athletes sacrifice to get to the top of their respective games, but Oneata Schwalger stands out.
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THERE is little question how much female athletes sacrifice to get to the top of their respective games, but Oneata Schwalger stands out.
The forward from Melbourne is the first free agent to sign an NRL women’s contract after penning a deal with St George Illawarra Dragons for the inaugural season.
“I didn’t expect this to happen in my time, so the fact that is has, it’s just say yes and work everything out later,” Schwalger said.
Schwalger is one of many women juggling sport commitments with family life.
Her training is worked around the schedule of her sons Diego and Malaki.
She’s changed jobs to have the freedom to play and enough money to support them.
When she was contracted to the Cronulla Sharks last year, Schwalger was prepared to move to Sydney, but the uncertainty around the future of the women’s program there meant it was better to stay in Melbourne and not disrupt her boys’ lives.
And they will stay there during August and September this year while she lives in Wollongong to prepare for and play in NRL Women’s.
“I’ve had to work harder; I’ve got two boys who are still in primary school. I have to work everything out around them when they’re sleeping,” she said.
“I have to train when they’re sleeping so I can still be present and I think that’s what makes it harder, but also worth the sacrifice when you’re presented an opportunity like this.”
With 60 marquee players given first crack at contracts, technically only 28 places remained for ‘free agents’. While not all marquee players necessarily get a contract, there weren’t many on offer for those outside the top tier.
Schwalger had one weekend to put a case forward to club coaches and recruitment managers with her on-field efforts. She impressed.
“She was someone who stood out at the National Championship,” coach Lacey said.
“It was very tough for the girls to play three games in that Championship and I saw her work ethic just didn’t drop off on any game, at any time of the match.
“That’s something that us at the Dragons love to identify — the people who don’t want to let their team down. The people who are not here for egos, they’re here to actually buy in to what we’re doing, to develop as a player and put the team first.”
Schwalger, also a rugby union player, first played league to make up some numbers 10 years ago in her home of New Zealand.
The bug bit her. Unfortunately when she moved to Perth a few months after that she was disappointed to learn there was only OzTag. She stuck with union, even played for the Wallaroos at the 2014 World Cup.
Then when she moved to Melbourne five years ago she was disappointed again. There were no league comps either. So when it finally started four years ago, albeit as nines, Schwalger didn’t think twice.
But she kept playing union to maintain a tough edge and it’s helped her get where she is now.
“I love it and I’ve always played the two at club level because I know when I go to the national comp the girls are tougher,” she said.
“I’m from New Zealand where I’ve played against very tough women so I know the level that’s expected and I have to play the two codes.
“I even train with men two of my trainings during the week just so I can get that toughness of getting battered, then I can do that to girls when I play!”
The Dragons now have eight players signed for the 2018 season. Marquee pool players Rikeya Horne, Jessica Sergis, Honey Hireme and Raecene McGregor were announced on Wednesday with Schwalger and join Sam Bremner, Kezie Apps and Talesha Quinn.
Player biographies
Honey Hireme
Kiwi Ferns (2008-present); 2008, 2013 and 2017 Women’s Rugby League World Cups; 2013 Rugby League Women’s World Cup Player of the Tournament; 2017 Rugby League Women’s World Cup top try scorer (13 tries); New Zealand Women’s Rugby League Player of the Year (2007, 2012); New Zealand Black Ferns (2014-present); 2013 Rugby Sevens Women’s World Cup; 2014 Rugby Women’s World Cup;
Rikeya Horne
New South Wales Country (2017-18); Australia Jillaroos (2018)
Raecene McGregor
New Zealand Kiwi Ferns (2017); 2017 Women’s Rugby League World Cup; 2014 Summer Youth Olympics Gold Medallist — Rugby Sevens; Represented New South Wales and Australia in soccer (2010)
Oneata Schwalger
2014 Rugby Women’s World Cup; Affiliated Combined States (2018)
Jessica Sergis
New South Wales City (2018); New South Wales (2017); Australian Jillaroos (2017)