How Vegas set NRLW star on international coaching path
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After taking on a coaching role with Atlanta Rhinos at the NRL Vegas Nines, former NRLW star Oneata Schwalger has put up her hand to help Nigeria’s quest for a women’s berth at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Schwalger, who was a foundation Dragons player in 2018, is among a growing number of NRLW players making the transition to coaching after a career in which she represented Samoa in rugby league and Australia in rugby union.
Having started her coaching journey with the junior teams in which her son Malaki Schwalger-Ioane – a member of South Sydney’s Harold Mathews Cup side – played, Schwalger’s experience has mostly been with male teams.
The dual international coached Atlanta Rhinos men’s team at this year’s Vegas Nines tournament, which was part of the NRL’s Festival of Rugby League headlined by the March 1 quadruple header at Allegiant Stadium.
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The 2026 Vegas Nines will be launched in coming weeks and Schwalger has been in discussions with a Florida-based USARL club, as well as the Rhinos.
“Last year when we went to the Vegas games, we didn't know that there was an NRL Nines tournament and we only found out on the day, so we said, ‘next year let's make sure we go watch’,” she said.
“And then I was like, ‘why don’t we play’, so we started reaching out to other clubs and then I was having a talk with Geoff [Tunks] from Coogee Wombats about what the coaching space is like, and he put me in touch with some people.
“I got a message from Atlanta asking if I could coach them, so I said 'sweet, I know how to coach men'. I actually do more coaching in the male space than I do in the women's because I have sons.”
However, after a recent meeting with Nigerian women’s coach Bolu Fagborun and a group of heritage players in Sydney, Schwalger is keen to be involved in the African nation’s World Series campaign in Canada.
Fagborun travelled to Australia to meet with potential players and sponsors, while also touring NRL and NRLW clubs, ahead of Nigeria’s October 21 clash with Ireland at Brampton’s Terry Fox Stadium.
The winner will take on the victor of the Canada v Fiji match in the final at Lamport Stadium, Toronto, on October 26 for the last remaining spot at RLWC2026, alongside Australia, New Zealand, England, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, France and Wales.
“I met someone from the Nigerian High Commission earlier in the year and they said, ‘you'd be perfect to speak to Bolu’, so I was like, ‘okay, cool, let's see what that looks like and how I can help out’,” Schwalger said.
“When I played with Fetū Samoa we were under resourced and just developing so when I see a country like Nigeria I know exactly where they're coming from.
"Samoa was like that a few years back so if I can help out where I can and share my knowledge it’s something I’d like to do.”
A cousin of Samoan international Tim Lafai, Schwalger joined him at the Dragons - one of the four NRL clubs playing in Vegas on February 28 - after representing Affiliated States at the 2018 National Championships.
Born in Samoa, Schwalger’s rugby league journey began in New Zealand and continued after moving to Melbourne.
Schwalger was a member of the Samoan team that lost 14-8 to the Jillaroos in the final of the 2018 Commonwealth Championships Nines, while she also represented Australia in rugby union.
“I have transitioned from playing to not playing, and coaching is the space that I'm moving into,” Schwalger said.
“I struggled when I stopped playing, I knew I wanted to be involved in sports, so I was thinking maybe pathways, player agent, manager but it wasn't really what I wanted to do.
“I've always coached my sons in rugby league since we moved here from Melbourne, and then I've become involved in coaching representative teams for rugby union and rugby league in the youth space, but then seniors as well.”
A recent trip to the US, where she met NFL Super Bowl winner Jordan Mailata at a Pasifika event focusing on mental health, and visited sporting clubs and universities, confirmed Schwalger's coaching ambitions.
"With my own coaching, I invest in myself, so I have been spending time with international teams, and teams and universities in the United States," she said.
“There is so much potential, and I know that they are really open to having coaches from Australia and New Zealand come over. If I can help Atlanta and teams like that, I am open to that."
