Malta and Philippines men and women will meet in the Friendship Cup on Saturday 28 October, at the New Era Stadium, Cabramatta (kick off women 1.30pm, men 3.30pm local time).
It will be the second meeting for the men, the Tamaraws winning 32-22 last year, and the senior internationals will be for world ranking points.
Oaks’s Kyal Greene will become Malta's most capped knight, reaching 20 appearances in an eight year representative career.
Malta men’s coach, Ben Sammut, commented: “I am incredibly excited and proud to be filling in as head coach. Having had the privilege of playing and captaining our nation, I understand the emotion and honour that comes with wearing the Maltese cross.
“We will be playing a relatively young squad, and I am looking to provide an opportunity for the next generation. Having coached a number of these young men in the past, I know that they have the ability to step up.”
St George Illawarra’s Renee Targett, who made the unlikely transition from gridiron to an NRLW regular, will make her final senior outing for the Philippines women.
Philippines chair, Reynaldo Nery, said: “I have been looking forward to this event, last year it proved to be a success. This year we have five games, including introducing our U16 female team which is very exciting and, like all our junior sides, they are the future of our organisation.”
Both matches will be live-streamed at -
MALTA WOMEN SQUAD:
Jasmine Dooley (All Saints Toongabbie), Emily Vella (Asquith Magpies), Maria Gregory (Bankstown Giants), Victoria Coppini, Kristen Grima (Camden Rams), Chloe Saliba, Keisha Waite (Campbelltown City Kangaroos), Christine Gaudiosi, Taylah Vella (Corrimal Cougars), Nicole Gusman (Gatton Hawks), Ashlei Grande (Malta Rugby League), Chantelle Leishman (Mounties), Dana Buttigieg (Narellan Jets), Bianca Smith, Molly Mamo (PRLW – Panthers White), Talara Tonna (Riverwood Legion), Amy Galea (St Patricks), Sarah Dimech (Wyong Roos)
PHILIPPINES WOMEN SQUAD
Payge Condon (Australian Defence Force/Queanbeyan Blues), Takiah Buchanan (Brothers Albion), Erica Rowel (Canberra Raiders), Tammy Fletcher, Janine Jamieson (Corrimal Cougars), Natalia Webb (Gatton Hawks), Charlene Vaughan (MacArthur Tigers), Linae Williams (Penrith Panthers), Alana Grace (Queensland Suburban), Leah Ellem (Slacks Creek), Renee Targett (St George Illawarra Dragons), Tynia Wells (Wentworthville), Jacky Lyden (Western Rams), Jilena Grant, Cassandra Koch, Rosalyn Lye, Megean Rickertt (Unattached)
MALTA MEN SQUAD:
Dylan Hodson (Brothers), Riley Tonna (Campbelltown City Kangaroos), Logan Sipple (Central Coast Roosters), Ryley Smith (Penrith Panthers), Will Exton (Hawkesbury Hawks), Luke Sherry, Brayden Sherry (Hills Bulls), Jordan Xuereb (Jamberoo), Zac Vella (Moorebank Rams), Anthony Bucca (Mounties), Eli Foote (Singleton United), Bryson Demanuele (St Clair), Zarrin Galea (St Patricks), Lucas Borg (Shellharbour), Kyal Greene (The Oaks), Tyson Jackson (West Harbour), Jayden Azzopardi, Aaron Weston (Unattached).
PHILIPPINES MEN SQUAD
Ricky Kaucia (Bankstown Sports Club), Isaac Acheampong (Belrose Eagles), Ned Stephenson (Canowindra Tigers), Melvin Camara (Kingsgrove Colts), Ian Nelson, Tyrone Tootell, (Leichhardt Wanderers), Tyrone O’Leary (Mackay Carlton Devils), Benjamin Jegede (Mt Druitt Lions), Gerald Reyes (Mt Pritchard), Dylan Jones, Jordan Jones (Newcastle Knights), Mack Selwood (Orange Hawks), Nikolas Forrest (Parramatta Eels), Jeromy Cairns (Philippine Volcanoes), Isaac Rosario (Ryde Eastwood Hawks), Jeffery Vaughan (Wondai Wolves), Dennis Gordon, Bailey Page (Unattached),