'If anyone needs me': Lifestyle change has Nene primed for NRL return
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Kumuls star Nene Macdonald is the fittest he has ever been and open to offers to return to the NRL.
Macdonald, who plays for Salford, credits a lifestyle change for his stunning form in the Super League this season and for Papua New Guinea in Saturday night’s 22-10 defeat of Fiji at Suva’s HFC Stadium.
The 29-year-old was named in the 2024 Super League Dream Team and finished fourth in the prestigious Man of Steel award for the competition’s player of the year.
Nene on fire
“I feel like off-field I’m getting things right. I’m just doing the right things with my training and eating, and sort of departing from my old ways,” Macdonald told NRL.com.
“It showed in the Super League. I had a good season, so organising my life off the field helped me on the field.”
After his man-of-the-match performance against the Bati, Macdonald declared that he was keen to return to the NRL after three seasons in England.
“If anyone needs me, I'm ready,” Macdonald said. “I’m very happy at Salford, as well, but everyone wants to play NRL. That’s the top comp.”
The PNG-born back played 98 NRL matches for the Roosters, Titans, Dragons, Cowboys and Sharks before heading to the Super League in 2022.
After stints with Leigh and Leeds, Macdonald has enjoyed his best season this year with Salford, and it was noticeable how fit he is in PNG’s opening Pacific Championships match in Fiji.
“I've had conversations with coaches, and it was always the same – ‘if you get your off field right, you've got all the talent in the world, but it's the off field that's letting you down,” Macdonald said.
“I look back now, and I started playing [in the NRL] pretty young, but my professionalism wasn't at its best and I think my talent allowed me to get away with it.
“I was partying a lot, not concentrating, and not training the best. Now I'm putting all that aside and it’s been an amazing year just getting my off field right and reaping the rewards because of that.”
Macdonald hadn’t played fullback since juniors, but new Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou was impressed after seeing him at training for the first time last Wednesday and asked if he would wear the No.1 jersey.
Playing his 17th Test, Macdonald said wearing the PNG jersey always inspired him to perform his best and he scored a try, produced a try assist, two line-breaks, 11 tackle breaks and five offloads, while running 277 metres with the ball.
“The coach pulled me aside and asked if I can play fullback. I just told him, ‘wherever I'm needed I'll play. If you need me to play wing, centre or frontrow I’ll play there’,” Macdonald said.
“Wearing the Kumuls jersey gives you another level, it's like a protective armour.
"Growing up, I wanted to play Kumuls before I wanted to play NRL and, and I got to live out both my dreams. To keep doing it now and, and doing it at this level, I'm just so proud.”
