Former Australian Test star Brad Mackay is enjoying a new lease of life with the Bulls and puts his sparkling form down to his discovery of religion.

The 31-year-old loose forward, who will be a key figure against Leeds Rhinos, successfully combines the rough, tough world of rugby league with his faith as a born-again Christian.

"It's helped because it's made me calmer and more disciplined on the field," he said. "It's taken away a lot of the pressure and put life into perspective.

"I go out there relaxed. It's made me a better player because I don't go out there every week thinking that my whole life is at stake if I don't win."

Jason Robinson (Wigan) and Apollo Perelini (St Helens) are other high-profile born-again Christians and Mackay reckons he could put together a useful World XIII of converts.

"In addition to Jason and Apollo, there's Jason Stevens of Cronulla and Test winger Mat Rogers," he said. "We would have a really good side."

Mackay, nicknamed "Rughead" because of his curly locks, talks quite openly about his religion but it was not always so.

"I've been a Christian eight years now," he recalled. "It was pretty much a sudden thing. I had never had any experience with it before. I just met a girl and we got talking.

"I didn't know anything about the Christian faith. We talked a lot about it and I decided to check it out. I talked to a chaplain about it and, after a while, I started to go to Church and hide in the back pews because I didn't want to be known.

"I just listened to what they had to say and I was impressed. The lifestyle is good, very calming, and I would encourage anybody to have a look at it if they wanted to. I'm very comfortable with it."

Mackay, who was in the St George Illawarra side beaten by Melbourne in last September's NRL Grand Final, has the chance to emulate his soul-mates as Challenge Cup winners. Robinson was in the victorious Wigan team of 1993 and 1995 while Perelini played in Saints' back-to-back wins in 1996 and 1997.

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