Be it on the field or at work, Raecene McGregor is used to laying a strong platform to build on.
The 28-year-old Wests Tigers half-back spends her time away from the rugby league field working as a floor fit layer for Bright Fit Floors, a role she has held for almost five years.
A former NSW Women’s premiership player with the Tigers, McGregor wanted to return to Concord this season as part of the major NRLW program rebuild under new coach Craig Sandercock, and Head of Women's Football, Charmain Steventon.
It’s proven to be a masterstroke with McGregor, a three-time NRLW premiership winner and the NZ Test half-back, playing a dominant role in the team’s rise to third.
“When ‘Sandy’ spoke to me, he said the Tigers lacked direction last year and that's what I wanted to come over and help with. I feel like I have,’’ McGregor said.
“The Tigers were a team that were always in games. And they never gave up. I’ll give them that.
“And I feel like that's something that we've really kept on this year that we've never given up.
“Yes, we've won the games, but there's been games that we've been 20-0 up like the Knights, and then they've come back, but we never stopped.
“That's something that intrigued me about the club was how much resilience they did have and how much pride they had in each other as well.
“So, I wanted to come here and be able to help those girls out.
“I’m enjoying my footy a lot more this year, and I think that shows. 'Sandy' has been huge for me. Even though I’m one of the senior players, he still puts a lot of time into me.
“He doesn't treat me any differently to any of the girls here, whether they're playing NSW Women’s Premiership or playing in the top squad. He treats everyone the same and I really like that.
“I'm learning every day. I don’t claim to know everything and be the best player in the world.
“I want feedback too. Like I'm only going to continue to get better if you tell me the truth instead of just saying that I'm doing this right.
“Like I need to know what I'm doing wrong and how can I be better.”
McGregor said there were several players who had already impressed her in the rise of the Tigers.
“There's definitely a few girls that probably flew under the radar a little bit in the beginning, like Faythe Manera,’’ McGregor said.
“She's probably got the exposure a little bit more lately, but she's someone that has been huge for us. She can play any position that we need her to play.
“Faythe has been playing hooker mostly, but she played in the halves a few times when Losana (Lutu) got injured.
“I think she played centre for us one game when Lily (Rogan) went down and we had to make a whole shift in the back line. She's won us two games on the buzzer, so yeah, she's been huge for us.
“Someone like Shenai Lendill, too. She started off in the centres, now she's moved into the middles.
“Her footwork against tired middles just really broke the Bulldogs at Campbelltown last week. She got us some really quick play the balls that created speed to help the outside backs.”
McGregor said she had also learned some valuable lessons on leadership from captain Kezie Apps.
“She’s a great leader. I see myself as a leader but Kezie’s someone that I've always enjoyed working under,’’ McGregor added.
“I've taken some little things that she does, not so much from her game, but from her leadership that I will hopefully grow from.”
So, does McGregor see herself as a natural leader at Bright Fit Floors?
“It is my wife's company, so she's the boss. But she and the team there understand my commitments with footy,'' McGregor said.
"I enjoy my job. We mainly do commercial work like schools, hospitals and rubber gyms.
“I don't deal with the calls. That's all hers. I'm the muscle, apparently (laughs) so I come in and do the hard work.
“I like to get things done. Like, if there's a task that's been set, I'm like follow my lead because this is how we're going to do it. I’m probably like that everywhere.”
With two rounds remaining of the regular season, McGregor is focused on ensuring the Tigers put themselves in a strong position ahead of the club's maiden NRLW Finals appearance.
“We've set a platform this year, and we obviously want to finish it off on a high,” she said.
“But whatever happens this year, we know that this is the standard that’s been set for next year and we won't drop below it.”
Spoken like a true, natural leader - on and off the field.
