Salford’s Nene Macdonald’s new attitude to UK life resulting in his best game

NENE Macdonald is Salford’s changing man – ready to show old club Leigh how his new attitude to life is working.

The Red Devils centre has made Super League’s Dream Team following a string of stunning performances after leaving Leeds under a cloud.

Moping and moaning about being thousands of miles away from home and the British weather got the better of him at both the Leopards and Rhinos.

Now all that has changed and he is ready to show how it is improving his game in Friday’s elimination play-off against the club that brought him to the UK.

Even though at the end of the day, he would rather be an average member of a winning team than a glittering part of a losing one.

Papaua New Guinean Macdonald, who grew up in Australia, said: “That change is paying off massively. When you first come over, there are a lot of challenges.

“It is tough. You’ve never played in the cold, then it is and it’s wet. Everything’s harder to catch and your body feels more sore when you get hit.

“A lot of players who come over here miss home and get homesick. When you move halfway across the world, you tend to get that.

“No matter who you are, it’s a big change. Even though it’s similar in many ways, it’s different in a lot too. While I was at Leigh, I focused on what I didn’t have rather than make the most of what I did.

“I missed this, I missed that and I shone a big light on the things I missed. Then I went home and realised everyone’s doing their own thing and home will still be there.

“You come back with a better mindset. This is your job and it’s your life at the moment – I could be here for six or seven years but knowing I can always go home and having that mindset gives a much better feeling.

“It’s a case of getting used to and understanding that. Changing that mindset can go a long way and now I look at it a whole different way.

“But Leigh still has a place in my heart. I still get on very well with coach Adrian Lam and owner Derek Baumont – they’re good people.

“Many of their team are also good friends – but everything on the field is different.”

Macdonald’s new attitude is taking him around both the UK and Europe, away from rugby, to soak up the sights and sounds – especially the sounds as hearing different accents so close by is a thrill.

Now to help Salford back towards old ground – an Old Trafford Grand Final following, if the play-offs follow the league table, a semi-final at Wigan like in 2019.

And while he would love to be the hero, the 30-year-old would happily have an off day, as long as Paul Rowley’s side wins.

Macdonald added: “It’s pretty cool being picked alongside some great players in the Dream Team but to be honest, I take more notice when the team loses than when it wins.

“I’d rather play average and win than play well and lose. On Friday, I’d rather drop five balls and we win than score four tries and we lose.

“It’s always team first – but at the moment, it’s 160 minutes of work to get into the Grand Final.”