Turning to a World Cup winner in pursuit of a Super Rugby Women's title, Wallaroos flyhalf Arabella McKenzie is ready to bring her improved kicking game to the international stage when Australia take on Canada in the Pacific Four opener on Saturday afternoon in Sydney.
Working alongside former Wallaby fullback Matt Burke who was known as one of Australia's best goal-kickers, McKenzie took her kicking game to another level through the Super W season, not just from the tee but in general play as well, as she played a crucial role in her side's first title since 2020.
Every Wednesday afternoon through preseason the playmaker, as well as teammate Desiree Miller, would spend 90-minutes with the 1999 World Cup winner working on shots at goal, spiral kicks, grubbers and executing 50/22s in a bid to elevate her to become Australia's most well-rounded No.10.
"I think Burkey's on the Waratahs board, so they just teed up something with him for Desi and I and he got us kicking off the low tee, which we weren't too successful at, but just having him around giving us little cues and tips and tricks was really beneficial," McKenzie told EPSN.
"He worked with us more with general field kicking; spirals and little grubbers and exit kicks, kicking to touch and 50/22s, so it was unreal to work with him."
Already a proficient goal-kicker the 25-year-old admitted she relied too heavily on her natural talent in the past and spent little time working on her craft. After spending time with Burke, she's spent more hours on her accuracy, elevating it close to 70% through the Super W season, many of those from wide of the posts.
"I think with my goal kicking, I just stripped it right back down and I literally kick every single day almost now.
"I think years previously I've kind of always had the skills and I didn't think I really needed to focus on it, whereas now I want to be the main kicker and I need to keep working on it. I've just really been honing in on the little processes, really stripping it back and focusing on my kick, which has been really helpful."
Previously underutilised in the women's game, general play kicking only began to take hold at international level over the last few years, mainly in the northern hemisphere where teams like England and France invested in their player's technique and built the strength required for accurate kicking, but it's now began to take shape at Super W level with Burke helping McKenzie add another dimension to her game.
"There's so much space, especially in the women's game for kicks, so if you can get a few good backs that can put in little chips in behind or find grass or those 50/22s, they're always on," McKenzie told ESPN.
"I mean we've got speed to burn so it's good to have both options really; run, pass, kick, so it's exciting times coming up.
"I always knew how to do it; it was more just getting the execution of it better and the timing and where on the field you want to kick from.
"You probably want your grubbers more up towards and into the 22 and then spiral bombs can be contestable or just got to hit it well and know your fullback is secure under the highball. I've been figuring out when to kick it and where, not just kicking for the sake of it, I think really helped me this year.
"I don't want to give away too many secrets, but I think we'll have a well-rounded game plan and if we have to kick, we'll have to kick on our own terms. I'm sure we'll have something, but not too sure yet."
McKenzie was only young when Burke was at his prime and she admits she never watched him play for the Wallabies. Instead she grew up as a rugby league fan, specifically the St George Illawarra Dragons, where she believes rugby can look to and take inspiration around edge plays.
"He's a great bloke and anytime he can talk rugby you'll get stuck talking to him for about 15-20 minutes, and he'll tell you how good he is and how he can kick off his left foot, but he's a great man and he's doing wonderful things for the women's game as well.
"I love [in rugby league] when you just get like a four on four down an edge, I think rugby tries to overcomplicate it with cut passes and x-ys and stuff, I think you can just go really square and get someone coming under, someone coming short and then the fullback out the back.
"I really like the edge attack in league, and I think a lot more union teams are starting to do it now with the edge forwards, especially Ireland, now they've been playing with their edge forwards basically as centres or backrow in league terms. But I think like the kick chase, kicking on your own terms, rugby could still learn from league, like having those four lead runners get up on the kick."
Moving into the inside centre position during her time at Premiership Women's rugby club Harlequins in England early last, she went on to feature in the No.12 jersey through the whole international season. Returning to Super W this year, McKenzie moved back to the playmaker role for the Waratahs and earned her call up into the Wallaroos squad with expectations she'll be wearing the No.10 jersey come Saturday afternoon.
While her time at inside centre internationally was short lived, she's taken plenty of confidence and growth from her experience.
"I played a lot of 12 at Harlequins, that was predominantly my position and we basically played 10 and 12 as two ball players, and then at Wallaroos it was more like a crash ball, ball player type position.
"I've covered them all now, 10-12-fullback, but I think just feeling my short passing game at 12, you can hit the lead runners or can do a crash ball, and I think my defence improved as well, just because I had to make tackles, whereas at 10 I probably only had to make one or two a game, so just getting the confidence up in those areas and knowing that if I can do it at 12, I can definitely do it at 10.
"I think it all translates and I'm just happy to be on the field. I'll play anywhere, I just love it."
In the weeks leading up to their first camp under new coach Jo Yapp, several Wallaroos players labelled the vibes as "curious" with many unsure what the experienced coach from England would bring to the set-up, but according to McKenzie it's been an open and safe environment for players to learn and grow.
"It's being really exciting. She's very black and white and very English, so you kind of know exactly what your role is and what you're supposed to be doing, and I think it's really positive. You're here to learn and you're not doing anything wrong, you just learn from it [mistakes] and get better. She prepared a really safe learning space in that sense.
"There's always going to be that level of curiosity with new coaches and new staff, so everyone kind of wants to put their best foot forward and, you know, girls that usually don't pick up kit after training were the first ones to pick up kit after training, trying to impress her.
"It has been good, and she's got a really clear game plan and clear structure, so hopefully the girls are on the same page.
"I think the way Jo looks at the game she sees it at a different level, and I think it will really benefit the Wallaroos."
Now as attention turns to their first Test of 2024 and their first under their new coach there's a sense of quiet excitement building within the squad as they look to secure a place in the WXV1 tournament later this year.
"It's been like very chill. Obviously, we train hard, but it's really good vibes at the moment. Everyone's really calm and excited I would say rather than nervous energy.
"100% we're planning to win. We're playing on home soil, first game of the year. Everyone's just chomping at the bit, and ready to rip in. I don't think we'll take any game lightly or thinking we're going to go in losing. I know the squad she's picked she's picked people in form and people that want to play for the Wallaroos and have that desire.
"I'm really excited to play under Jo and play for the Wallaroos again this year."
