Oneata Schwalger hopes to get drafted to the NRLW debut season later this year

A DONCASTER mum is hoping to be among the trailblazers when the National Rugby League’s brand new women’s competition kicks off later this year.

Oneata Schwalger is hoping to be a trailblazer in the NRL's planned new women's competition which is set to launch in August. Picture: Ellen Smith

A DONCASTER mum is hoping to be among the trailblazers when the National Rugby League’s brand new women’s competition kicks off later this year.

The NRL confirmed last year it would run a women’s competition alongside its finals series in 2018 with the season decider to be played as a curtain raiser to the men’s grand final.

And it’s the opportunity of a lifetime for 32-year-old Oneata Schwalger.

Schwalger’s most recent outing was for her native Samoa at the Commonwealth Rugby League 9s event where she picked up a silver medal back in February.

It marked the start of a comeback after a long lay-off for Schwalger who dislocated her shoulder scoring the winning try for Melbourne Unicorns in last year’s women’s rugby union grand final.

Schwalger first started playing union in New Zealand when she was 12. She took up league when she moved to Melbourne about four years ago.

She’s represented Australia at the rugby union women’s World Cup but is even more excited about the possibility of playing in the NRLW.

“With rugby league, the girls are being contracted to play so knowing we’ll get that bit of income really goes a long way,” she said.

The selection process will involve state carnivals at Easter and again in June, with six clubs likely to be admitted for the first season.

It’s a welcome change of pace for Schwalger who was disappointed to miss out on selection for Australia in last year’s rugby league women’s World Cup due to the shoulder injury.

“Australia is accelerating the opportunities for women so I’m keen to make the most of it while I’m in the last few years of my playing career,” Schwalger said.

The Melbourne Storm are unlikely to have a team in the NRLW at this stage, meaning Schwalger will have to relocate for the eight-week competition — most likely to either Sydney or Brisbane.

But the move wouldn’t be a permanent one, she said.

“It’s sort of hard to relocate my family just for footy, so it’ll be more like going away for a World Cup,” she said.