Western Force fullback Jack McGregor is the sixth nominee for the NRC Rising Star award.
McGregor, 21, has been superb in a strong season from the Perth-based side, who have put themselves in striking distance of top spot.
The skilful fullback, who usually plays no.10 but has shifted back with Andrew Deegan In the position, has been a reliable threat for the Force; both in the finishing department and jumping in as a second playmaker.
That much can be seen with McGregor having scored four tries in six games and also laid on six try assists; the fourth-highest tally in the competition. He can find space with passing or kicks.
Despite those numbers, McGregor has remained something of an under-the-radar asset for the Force, but that surely won’t last too much longer.
Moving west mid-way through the year has certainly agreed with McGregor, who only joined the Force to play World Series Rugby in June.
Prior to that McGregor had spent the last year and a half at the Melbourne Rebels, where he’d been unable to crack a spot in the Super Rugby side.
The talented Sydney playmaker, who skippered the NSW Schoolboys in 2014 and turned out for Australian Schoolboys and under 20s, played a full season for the Melbourne Rising last year but didn’t get a chance to shine further up.
He’s certainly done that during the Force’s NRC campaign in 2018 and will be a key man for them when they take on the Fijian Drua at home this weekend, with top spot up for grabs.
Australian players are eligible for the NRC Rising Star award if they have played three games or fewer in Super Rugby. Drua players must have played three games or fewer for the Flying Fijians.
The NRC Rising Star award winner will be selected by a judging panel at the end of the 2018 NRC season.
NRC Nominees
Round One: Andrew Deegan (Western Force)
Round Two: Alivereti Veitokani (Fijian Drua)
Round Three: Jock Campbell (Queensland Country)
Round Four: Archie King (Melbourne Rising)
Round Five: Darcy Swain (Canberra Vikings)
Round Six: Jack McGregor (Western Force)
Round Seven: TBA
