1
'I haven't coached anyone like him before': The 18-year-old that shunned the NRL to sign with the Reds
By AAP
Mac Grealy has taken the best bits of Kalyn Ponga's game and is seen as the next Tim Horan at the Queensland Reds.
But after shunning the NRL and earning a maiden Reds contract the exciting fullback or winger is expected to handle the hype when he inevitably makes his Super Rugby debut.
The 18-year-old from Toowoomba boasts incredible footwork and an on-field presence that has former Wallabies lock and Grealy's long-time coach Garrick Morgan excited.
"He was one of the easiest guys to coach and is a great leader too," Morgan told Channel Nine.
"It's massive; he's got all the X-factor that you need.
"I haven't coached anyone like him before and the only qualities that similar are Tim Horan, so I compare him much to him."
Grealy has cherry-picked bits and pieces from athletes across both codes but says Newcastle Knights and Queensland Maroons No.1 Ponga has always been a favourite.
"I love to attack, if I can take someone on I will," the teenager said.
"I like to pick and choose from a few (players) but back when I was a younger kid Kalyn Ponga was pretty big.
"I like to bring a bit of that into my game and a few tricks from other players and make that into one."
The teenager has some traffic ahead of him to earn a Reds debut, with Jock Campbell starring at fullback last season and NRL recruit Suliasi Vunivalu joining Wallaby Filipo Daugunu in a deadly strike wing combination.
They're part of a Reds squad loaded with Wallabies that is expected to push for Super Rugby AU and trans-Tasman silverware this season.
Coach Brad Thorn hasn't been shy in rewarding young talent though, with Josh Flook and Zane Nonggorrbut already debuting last year before earning their first contract, alongside Kalani Thomas, Ilaisa Droasese and Grealy on Friday.
Morgan has no doubt Grearly can handle the level and the hype when he does earn a debut.
"Australia has learnt a lot of lessons throwing people into the deep end early," he said.
"But he's intelligent, a leader and thrives under pressure, just loves it.
"When the chips are down he'll lift a team and score the try."
- Murray Wenzel
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Henry Arundell lined up for early England homecoming
3
Government provides bleak assessment on the state of the Premiership
4
Steve Borthwick handed fresh injury concern ahead of Six Nations
5
Latest Comments
"fl's idea, if I can speak for him to speed things up, was for it to be semifinalists first, Champions Cup (any that somehow didn't make a league semi), then Challenge's semi finalists (which would most certainly have been outside their league semi's you'd think), then perhaps the quarter finalists of each in the same manner. I don't think he was suggesting whoever next performed best in Europe but didn't make those knockouts (like those round of 16 losers), I doubt that would ever happen."
That's not quite my idea.
For a 20 team champions cup I'd have 4 teams qualify from the previous years champions cup, and 4 from the previous years challenge cup. For a 16 team champions cup I'd have 3 teams qualify from the previous years champions cup, and 1 from the previous years challenge cup.
"The problem I mainly saw with his idea (much the same as you see, that league finish is a better indicator) is that you could have one of the best candidates lose in the quarters to the eventual champions, and so miss out for someone who got an easier ride, and also finished lower in the league, perhaps in their own league, and who you beat everytime."
If teams get a tough draw in the challenge cup quarters, they should have won more pool games and so got better seeding. My system is less about finding the best teams, and more about finding the teams who perform at the highest level in european competition.
Go to commentsWalter has been permanently psychologically damaged since his wife left him and moved in with a man from Sydney.
Go to comments