Kiwi Ferns co-captain Raecene McGregor has revealed why she moved from St George Illawarra to Wests Tigers, saying she needed a fresh start to revive her love for the game.

The 2022 Dally M Medallist and former Golden Boot winner is one of the best players in the NRLW but struggled with her passion for rugby league and juggling the realities of life and work at the end of this season with the Dragons.

She missed the last three games of the 2025 season as she wrangled with her future, but says her competitive spirit was sparked back to life in a chat with incoming Tigers coach Craig Sandercock.

• NRLW free agency analysis: Every club’s ins and outs, contract statuses, signing rumours

“I guess for the Dragons, I needed something new, I think I was at a bit of a stale stage there, I probably wasn’t enjoying my footy as much, and not that I had an issue with the club or anything like that, but I lost a little bit of interest, a bit of love and passion for the game, and I felt like I needed a fresh start,” McGregor said ahead of Sunday’s Pacific Championships final at CommBank Stadium where the Kiwi Ferns play the Jillaroos.

“When I spoke to Craig he had some really good insights to the Tigers and what I could offer them.

“I think I can offer a lot to that club, they have a really good pack and they’re probably just missing someone with a bit of direction. I felt like I could add a lot to that team and bring some of those girls out of their shells.

“I’m really excited for a fresh start. I’ll be good to be closer to home and get back to enjoying my footy again.”

McGregor’s influence is expected to be a huge boost for the Tigers, who have finished with the wooden spoon for the past two years.

It cost them inaugural head coach Brett Kimmorley, but they’ve been steadily rebuilding with McGregor and the expected signing of Canterbury forward Holli Wheeler for 2026 as well as established Jillaroos stars Kezie Apps and Sarah Togatuki.

“There’s so much potential there, and last year, they missed the mark a little bit but they definitely have a good squad. They’re just missing some experience in the spine and I think I can get them around the park a bit,” she continues.

“With a bit of that, I feel like that team can do some good things.

“A new coach too, it’s a fresh start for everyone.”

Guiding the next generation is McGregor’s sweet spot and she’s in her element with the Kiwi Ferns.

The 29-year-old made her international debut in the 2017 World Cup and over the past eight years has seen massive change in in the women’s game.

“The quality is the biggest change,” she says.

“When I first started playing, we probably had a couple of NRLW girls and a lot of the girls were homegrown talent, and to see that every single player in this team now plays NRLW, it’s just changed so much.”

A simmering rivalry between Australia and New Zealand has only intensified.

The Jillaroos won a close 10-4 poor game in Auckland last weekend and face off in Sunday’s final in Sydney.

“When I first played the Jillaroos it was super tough, they had so many NRLW players and we had a small handful, so now that everyone is on the same page you can see we’ve stepped up a whole ‘nother level and hopefully we can show that this weekend.

“We’ve come so far, hopefully we can put on a good show.”

Originally published as Raecene McGregor hoping Wests Tigers can reignite her football passion after ‘stale’ season with Dragons