TARGETT FLYING FLAG FOR PHILIPPINES AS INTERNATIONAL STARS READY FOR NRLW KICK-OFF

St George Illawarra hooker Renee Targett will fly the flag for the Philippines as a host of international stars prepare for the opening round of the expanded NRLW competition.

Targett, who co-captained the Sampaguitas against Malta last year, will play alongside New Zealand rugby sevens convert Tyla Nathan-Wong and Kiwi Ferns halfback Raecene McGregor – the 2022 IRL Golden Boot winner and NRL Dally M Medallist – in a new look Dragons side.

North Queensland fullback Francesca Goldthorp and Canberra second-rower Hollie-Mae Dodd will create history as the first English women to play in the NRLW, while England team-mate Georgia Roche is expected to make her debut for Newcastle in Round 2.

England star Francesca Goldthorp will play for the Cowboys (NRL Photos)

Gold Coast centre Niall Williams-Guthrie, the sister of Sonny Bill Williams, has also switched codes after playing alongside Nathan-Wong in the New Zealand Rugby Sevens team.

Former Black Ferns forward Tafito Lafaele has been chosen on the interchange for Brisbane, while fellow New Zealand rugby union international, Cheyelle Robins-Reti, will play in the centres for the Raiders.

Cook Islands rookie Mackenzie Wiki, the daughter of Kiwis great Ruben Wiki, will be Canberra's other centre, while World Cup team-mate Chantay Kiria-Ratu will make her NRLW debut for the Titans in Saturday’s clash with the Cowboys.

Teenage Cook Islands star Chantay Kiria-Ratu will play for the Titans (NRL Photos)

The North Queensland line-up includes Papua New Guinea stars Shellie Long and Sera Koroi, along with Fiji rugby union international Vitalina Naikore.

World Cup sensation Mele Hufanga will make her debut for the Broncos, while Kiwi Ferns team-mates Laishon Albert-Jones and Abigail Roache are set to make their first NRLW appearances for Newcastle in Saturday’s match against Targett’s Dragons.

After joining the Dragons last year as a utility, Targett is set to wear the No.9 jersey following the departure of Jillaroos hooker Keeley Davis to Sydney Roosters and hopes to inspire other players of Filipino heritage to play rugby league.

Renee Targett in action for the Dragons (NRL Photos)

“I am half Filipino, my mum was born there in Northern Samar, near Catarman, and all of my family lives in the village over there,” Targett said.

“I have been back there a couple of times, met all of the family, and it has been great, so I have a lot of time for the Philippines and Philippines Rugby League and I want to give back in that space too.

“Having the opportunity to play with all my Filipino girls kind of hits that culture spot for me, and being in a group with all of them just feels like home.”

Cowboys centre Jasmine Peters also boasts Filipino heritage and Targett said that as the NRLW grows it was likely to attract other players, including Philippines rugby sevens stars, who could help the Sampaguitas become the first South-East Asian team to qualify for a World Cup.

Cowboys star Jasmine Peters has Filipino heritage (NRL Photos)

“That is what we are building for and that is why we have started to play sanctioned international matches,” Targett said.

“We are hoping to get a ranking so eventually we can work our way into the World Cup because that would be a dream come true for a lot of Filipinos.

“The pathways that we have, and the girls who are starting to put their hand up to say ‘I am Filipino and I want to play rugby league’, has been really amazing and they are always excited to come join the group.

“We are arms open and ready to welcome them, so it has been awesome. I think as the competition expands and more players start to jump codes, we will get more girls coming to join this exciting sport.”