Shenai Lendill is many things to many people, but the one common denominator is her devotion, hard work and being there for others.
To her Wests Tigers NRLW teammates, Lendill can fill any position, be it as an outside back or up in the forwards.
It’s been that way for a long time now for the girl from the Northern Beaches of Sydney, who started her rugby league career at the Mona Vale Raiders and Forestville Ferrets before playing for the North Sydney Bears.
She then landed a contract with the Canterbury Bulldogs in the NSW Women’s Premiership.
It was at the Bulldogs where Lendill first crossed paths with her current Wests Tigers Coach, Craig Sandercock, and NRLW Head of High Performance, Richmond Saliba.
Her hard work under Sandercock and Saliba saw Lendill rewarded with an NRLW contract with St George-Illawarra in 2023, where she would go on to play 29 games over three seasons.
When Sandercock and Saliba took the reins at the Wests Tigers for 2026, it was an easy decision for Lendill to head to Concord to be a part of the club’s NRLW rebuild.
“I felt I played my best footy under 'Sandy' at the Bulldogs. I knew how good of a coach he was and I enjoyed the standards he and Rich set, so it was an easy decision for me to come here’’ Lendill said.
“I was also speaking with Raecene McGregor about her movements, as well as one of my best mates in Holli Wheeler.
“To be able to play alongside Raecene and Holli, as well as the likes of experienced players in Sarah Togatuki and Kezie Apps, here at Wests Tigers under Sandy and Rich, made it very enticing.
“I’m so glad I came to Wests Tigers. I’m loving every second of it.”
Sandercock described Lendill as the ‘ideal utility player’ for her uncanny ability to fill any position.
“One of the reasons we signed Shenai was because we know she turns up. She hasn’t let us down. By that, she trains hard and does exactly what is required,’’ Sandercock said.
“She can play absolute any position and play it so well. It gives us plenty of confidence as a team.
“Shenai is tough, she’s a competitor, and she’s low maintenance.
“She ticks all the boxes and is the ideal player because you don’t have to worry about her.”
When asked about Lendill, Saliba didn’t hesitate to endorse her work ethic.
She’s the ‘Chuck Norris’ of training. You can’t break her
NRLW Head of High Performance, Richmond Saliba on Shenai Lendill
It was a comment that shocked Lendill, but one she warmly accepted, knowing firsthand the high standards Saliba drives.
“That’s nice of Rich to say that. He doesn't give many compliments, so that’s good to hear,’’ Lendill said, laughing.
“I love Rich. He knows we can achieve plenty and wants to drive those standards.
“I can't pinpoint what it is about him, but he is able to get the best out of us.”
It’s fair to say those high standards are a trait that Lendill carries over in her role as a disability support worker.
“I used to work for Cerebral Palsy Alliance, running their sport program for adults and children with disabilities,’’ Lendill said.
“I finished with them last year and now work full-time for myself. I provide community access, things like taking clients to the gym, or whatever their goals are really.
“I have one client who loves playing bingo, so it’s pretty much just taking them out and helping them do what they need to.
“It’s so uplifting. I just love going to work, helping my clients in the community.
“Some things can be quite difficult for them but for me to be able to just play my part and get them to live their life to the fullest and live their life like normal people every other day, is so rewarding. It’s been great.
“Be it bingo, movies, shopping, gym, to appointments, every day is kind of different.”
Just like her work, Lendill’s versatility is one that can never be underestimated.
Asked which position she prefers to play, the 26-year-old just smiled.
“Anywhere the team needs me, I’m a team first player,’’ she offered.
“I've played prop, lock, back-row and centre, so wherever 'Sandy' needs me to be, I’m there.”
Whether it’s her clients or Wests Tigers team-mates, they're in safe and reliable hands with Shenai Lendill.
