Wests Tigers NRLW recruits Kezie Apps and Sarah Togatuki have both been named in a 20-strong squad for NSW ahead of this year’s Ampol Women’s State of Origin series.
Both players were part of last year’s team which defeated Queensland 20-14 in Canberra, and have since been unveiled as two of Wests Tigers key signings ahead of the club’s inaugural season in the NRLW.
Apps has been a prominent figure in women’s rugby league for many years and was a key member of Wests Tigers Premiership-winning Harvey Norman Women’s team last year.
Togatuki, who will join Apps as a key member of Wests Tigers NRLW forward pack later this year, became the first Sky Blue to win the Karyn Murphy Medal as player of the match in the 2021 NRLW Grand Final, won by the Roosters.
Apps was the opposing captain that day, playing for the Dragons.
The are six debutants in the squad for the opening game at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium on Thursday 1 June. The final 17 will be named after the NSW team goes into camp on 25 May.
For the first time the women’s Origin in 2023 will be a two-game series. The second game is at Townsville’s Country Bank Stadium on Thursday 22 June.
HARVEY NORMAN NSW SKY BLUES SQUAD
Brooke Anderson (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
Kezie Apps (Illawarra Steelers) – Wests Tigers 2023
Shaylee Bent (Wynnum-Manly Seagulls)
Teagan Berry (Illawarra Steelers)
Millie Boyle (Central Coast Roosters)
Jaime Chapman (Tweed Heads Seagulls)
Kennedy Cherrington (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
Yasmin Clydsdale (Newcastle Knights)
Keeley Davis (Illawarra Steelers)
Quincy Dodd (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
Taliah Fuimaono (Illawarra Steelers)
Ellie Johnston (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
Isabelle Kelly (Central Coast Roosters)
Olivia Kernick (Central Coast Roosters)
Rachael Pearson (Illawarra Steelers)
Tiana Penitani (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
Jessica Sergis (North Sydney Bears)
Jesse Southwell (Newcastle Knights)
Sarah Togatuki (North Sydney Bears) – Wests Tigers 2023
Emma Tonegato (Illawarra Steelers)
