Playmaker Raecene McGregor has made an enormous impact in the Kiwi Ferns jersey since debuting in 2017 - as well as at NRLW level, developing into one of the ground-breaking competition's most influential players.

Sydney-born to New Zealander parents, McGregor is a genuine sporting all-rounder, representing NSW and Australia in soccer, touch rugby and Rugby Sevens.

But after linking up with an Australia-based Kiwi Ferns training squad, the 20-year-old was invited to New Zealand for a trial and won selection for the Rugby League World Cup. McGregor was one of the breakout stars at the tournament, scoring two tries on debut against Cook Islands, and dotting down versus Papua New Guinea (playing at fullback) and against Australia in the final after unseating Georgia Hale for the No.6.

McGregor’s stunning cut-out pass to send Honey Hireme over for the Kiwi Ferns’ first try in the decider will live long in the memory.

The Cabramatta Two Blues star earned an NRLW contract with St George Illawarra for the historic 2018 competition, playing all three of the Dragons’ games. She featured in the subsequent 26-24 test loss to the Jillaroos in Auckland.

McGregor produced a try and a try-assist as well as running for 95 metres in a standout showing at halfback as New Zealand defeated Samoa midway through 2019. Snapped up by Brisbane for the second NRLW premiership, she then partnered Jillaroos gun Ali Brigginshaw in the halves as the Broncos powered to back-to-back grand final victories.

Less than a week before her 22 nd birthday, the burgeoning ball-player was named Player of the Tournament after the Kiwi Ferns’ sensational World Cup Nines triumph. She scored the opening try and kicked two goals in the epic 17-15 win over the Jillaroos in the final.

McGregor donned the No.7 again as New Zealand suffered a 28-8 Test loss to Australia in Wollongong a week later.

A standout in Māori All Stars’ loss to Indigenous All Stars during the 2020 pre-season, McGregor switched to Wests Tigers for the NSW Women’s Premiership and helped steer the Broncos to another NRLW title.

The accolades continued to roll in for McGregor as she was named Player of the Match in Māori All Stars' 2021 victory over their Indigenous counterparts, while the brilliant ball-player was a huge acquisition for Sydney Roosters ahead of the twin NRLW premierships played during 2022. McGregor was the No.7 linchpin as the Roosters snared their maiden title in April, while she claimed the Dally M Medal in the August-September competition that ultimately saw the Tricolours upset in the semi.

McGregor scored a try and had a try-assist in New Zealand's mid-2022 win over Tonga in Auckland - a Test that also saw her sister, Page, debut - and went to England at the end of the year as one of the Kiwi Ferns squad's genuine World Cup headliners.

The brilliant ball-player played in all five matches of New Zealand's campaign in England, scoring two tries against Cook Islands and dotting down again in the semi-final victory over the hosts. McGregor tempered the disappointing of the Kiwi Ferns' 54-4 loss to the Jillaroos in the final by becoming New Zealand's first female winner of the IRL Golden Boot award.

McGregor rejoined St George Illawara in 2023 and captained the club in all nine games of its campaign, kicking 14 goals and earning a top-10 finish in the NRLW Dally M Medal count.

The 25-year-old was an automatic pick for the Kiwi Ferns' Pacific Championships squad and was named co-captain. McGregor set up a try in the first-up loss to Australia, two in the win over Tonga and was typically influential in the momentous win over the Jillaroos in Melbourne. Her fifth and last goal of the series was a booming conversion from the sideline that helped the Kiwi Ferns to a 12-6 triumph.