After round one of Super Rugby Pacific, I hitched my wagon to Nick Champion de Crespigny, and after eight rounds, I’m feeling pretty good about it.

Since then, the 28-year-old has signed on the dotted line for another three years in Perth.

He feels like the calibre of player the Western Force have missed yesteryear. A three-year deal is as much an endorsement of the organisation as it is for him as a player.

The Force front office deserves a lot of credit. They’ve made some terrific signings this year that have taken them to the next level.

Nic Dolly and Brandon Paenga-Amosa have added real, unforgiving grunt to the front row.

Darcy Swain has done the same, and his combination with Jeremy Williams could see them start for the Wallabies.

Dylan Pietsch has been unlucky with injuries, and Sio Tomkinson has added physicality in the midfield.

However, I’m ready to anoint my next “My Guy” and he’s another man who embodies “West is Best”. It’s Mac Grealy.

The Western Force fullback has had a quietly terrific Super Rugby Pacific campaign so far, which is all the more impressive considering his unsung season last year for the Queensland Reds.

Grealy’s decision to move out west did raise eyebrows. Although the Reds were set to welcome Filipo Daugunu back from the Rebels, they were also set to say farewell to Jordan Petaia and had recently released Suliasi Vunivalu.

Grealy started 11 out of his 13 games last season under Les Kiss, and while he was far from prolific in the try-scoring charts, he was an integral piece of their back three. He has carried that form into his new Super Rugby Pacific franchise and has locked down the 15 shirt, and has once again made himself a vital piece of a Wallaby-laden back three.

Mac Grealy of the Western Force. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images)

For any rugby aficionados out there, he reminds me of a previous Joe Schmidt favourite: Fergus McFadden.

McFadden finished his career with 34 Ireland caps and a further 184 Leinster caps – and was an incredibly physical utility back who was easily spotted on the field with his style of running and taped headband.

The Leinster stalwart was capable of scoring tries and slotting conversions/penalties; the highest highs of his career were always in Schmidt’s orbit.

He wasn’t alone in that regard.

McFadden just did the simple things really well, and his aggression and physicality meant he punched far above his weight.

Grealy is a far more dangerous attacking threat, and he’s really kicked on this aspect of his game.

It’s this area that has convinced me he’s ready to take the next step up to the international level.

While out on the wing for the Reds last season, his side of the pitch was locked down. He made his hits against thrilling outside backs. He combined well with his fellow back three to cover a range of space.

His determination and work ethic are what set him apart for me while he was in a red shirt.

His willingness to chase kicks made a lot of Tate McDermott’s wayward kicking look a lot more acceptable. The scrumhalf’s kicking game would have been put under even more scrutiny if not for Grealy last year.

He’s now married to that part of his game with his attacking prowess this season, and in a back three of Harry Potter and Pietsch, the uncapped fullback doesn’t look out of place, not one bit.

Tom Wright’s return to form in a gold jersey last year was one of the stories of the season.

His skillset and Schmidt’s vision worked wonders together in their maiden campaign. However, after Wright, the options at fullback have looked a little light.

RA’s new million-dollar man, Joseph Aukuso Suaalii, has been deployed out the back by Dan McKellar with promising but inconsistent results.

One would hope that Schmidt and RA have had some say on testing Aukuso Suaalii here during SRP, however, I get the sense from McKellar that he’s trying to make a point.

Jock Campbell has done well in the fullback shirt for the Reds and has even earned four Wallaby caps, the last of which came in 2022. At 29 years of age, he’s not the long-term answer.

From my perspective, Grealy could be the answer and his SRP performances this year lead me to believe he’s the next best man up after Wright to fill the 15 shirt.

With Grealy becoming a genuine option, this enables Schmidt to let his back three excel in their preferred positions as opposed to tinkering with new combinations, like moving Max Jorgensen to fullback, for instance.

Looking back, I feel pretty good about nailing my colours to the Nick Champion de Crespigny mast.

Let’s go double or nothing with my predictions: Grealy will become Wallaby #992 in 2025.