Forward Sarah Togatuki credits Wests Tigers' new coach Craig Sandercock for helping her rediscover her love for rugby league.
Having finished wooden spooners for the past two seasons, Wests (2-1) have emerged as a finals contender after producing a positive start to their NRLW season.
Sandercock has been at the centre of the club's ascendancy after shifting into the head coach role in the off-season while bringing in a mammoth 13 new faces, including inspirational halfback Rae McGregor.
Togatuki has witnessed the transformation from the club's inner sanctum, having been with Wests since their inaugural season in 2023.
But she says the most important thing Sandercock did was generate belief in herself after the 28-year-old was dropped from NSW's State of Origin side despite becoming a mainstay over past editions.
"One thing that stuck with me is he said, 'Jeez, I hope your standards aren't as low as my standards for you'," Togatuki told AAP.
"He wants us to be the best versions of ourselves, and he wants us to just compete and be better every time we come to training or playing.
"He's helped me spark my love for footy again, since he's come and coached us, and I'm just at that point where I just really don't want to let him down."
Togatuki is also preparing to become one of the few Tigers players to reach 50 games when she takes on her former side the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.
"It's definitely a full-circle moment, a lot of that belief had started from some of the players that are still with the Roosters like Izzy (Kelly), Jess (Sergis), even Corby (Baxter)," she said.
Another team buoyed by an upbeat start to the season is Canberra (2-1), who will look to beat Cronulla for the first time on Saturday.
Their narrow loss to premiership favourites the Roosters last round underlined their status as a finals contender.
Queensland representative Sophie Holyman said the team was beginning to click as they chase an elusive maiden post-season appearance.
"(Coach Darrin Borthwick) actually said on the field the other night 'Race me through the doors right now back inside,'" Holyman said.
"He knows that all of us would be absolutely fighting to get there.
"We're all so competitive in the most healthy way that we're pushing each other. Along with that, we have the belief of winning a premiership."
Elsewhere in round four, Canterbury and St George Illawarra will do battle ahead of North Queensland's clash against Gold Coast later on Saturday.
Parramatta and the Warriors will go head-to-head on Sunday before the Broncos face Newcastle in a potential early finals preview.
Australian Associated Press
