Gun playmaker's Rae of hope for fresh start at Tigers

Her time at the Dragons had an unpleasant end but Raecene McGregor is running headlong into a new beginning with Wests Tigers – her fourth NRLW club. 

Kiwis stalwart and a three-time NRLW premiership winner with the Broncos and Roosters, McGregor has the pedigree to bring a real change in fortunes for the Concord-based club. 

“I’m really grateful Sandy (coach Craig Sandercock) gave me the opportunity to come to the club because I’m really enjoying my footy again,” McGregor said. 

“The year didn’t end the way I wanted it to at the Dragons. There were a few things said I wasn’t happy with but I’m just leaving that alone. 

“I’m looking forward to this year. I’ve worked really hard in the off-season getting back to the fitness and the player I know I can be. The staff, the girls, here have really pushed me.” 

McGregor is closing in on 50 NRLW games, currently sitting at 48 after playing seven of a possible 11 at the Dragons in 2025. 

Sandercock said the 28-year-old halfback was working wonders with young five-eighth Lasana Lutu, 22, who only managed four games last season due to a knee injury. 

“Losana is back after only a few games last year and she’s a really good player, but I felt the team has a whole lacked some experience in the spine last year,” Sandercock told NRL.com. 

“So when Raecene became available we were really keen to get her to the club and she’s been fantastic since she got here.” 

Sandercock has experience himself working as NRL assistant coach at the Knights, Sharks, Bulldogs and Wests Tigers and as a head coach at Hull Kingston Rovers in Super League. 

There are 14 new faces at Wests Tigers this year with a pattern emerging of greater depth. 

Former NSW Blues players Holli Wheeler (Sharks) and Shaylee Bent (Titans) have arrived alongside Shenai Lendill (Dragons) and Shaniece Monschau (Bulldogs). 

”I just wanted to get players here who I knew would train hard. I had experience with Holli and Shenai at the Bulldogs,” Sandercock said.  

“They may not be marquee players but they train hard and they set an example. They want to win and they want to compete.” 

Bent, 25, celebrated her 50th NRLW game milestone at the Titans last year and has four Origins for NSW and five Tests for Australia. 

“I’m reuniting with Kezie (Apps) and Holli from my Origin days. Holli was there when I debuted as an 18-year-old – she put me under her wing,” Bent said. “It’s nice to make those connections again. 

“And Sandy has given me such confidence. I’m back to where it all started in a way.” 

Bent played Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19s) for Wests Tigers before making her NRLW debut in 2019 with the Dragons. 

“I’m really grateful my journey has brought me back here because I’m loving it.” 

Sandercock and the 10 Tigers from the 2025 season also want better results than two wins in 2024 and one in 2025, although four games were lost by four points or less. 

“Last season there were patches of really good footy and close results. It’s a matter of being able to concentrate for longer periods – we do that with the talent here and we’ll be more than competitive,” he said. 

Bent knows the challenge of what the job ahead will be like. 

“When I started with the Titans they had come last the year before (2022) and yet we made the grand final in 2023,” she said. 

“For me it’s about winning games as I don’t like losing. I’ve been trying to instil that competitiveness in the girls at training,” Bent said. “I want to see that eye of the Tiger in them.”