Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force outside back Mac Grealy re-signs until 2028

After one of his best games of the year, Western Force have announced the re-signing of versatile outside back Mac Grealy, extending his stay out west for two more years.

In the wake of a series of Force starters signing lucrative overseas deals, the club have moved to shore up the signing of the rising 24 year-old, who has impressed since crossing from Queensland before last season.

Grealy was one of the Force’s best players in their 42-19 thrashing of Queensland Reds on Saturday and scored a superb try of the year candidate on the cusp of half-time, finishing off an eight-pass move through midfield with aplomb.

Having switched from wing to full-back after arriving at the force, Grealy finished second in the league last year for metres gained (878) and sixth for defenders beaten (41), earning an Australia A call-up in the process.

Grealy said he had enjoyed his time out west, both on and off the park, and was looking forward to another two years

“It’s obviously hard to beat the Perth lifestyle, particularly in summer. For me, I really believe I’ve found the place where I play my best footy,” he said.

“Since coming over I’ve built so many strong relationships with so many players and staff and I look forward to continuing to grow them.

“Personally, I want to leave a mark in the west, I didn’t want to be someone who used this place as a stepping stone. I want to help bring success to this franchise and believe we’ve got the people to do it.”

“A lot of us have now spent a fair bit of time here and those connections will go a long way in us winning a lot more games. I believe the weekend is only just the start of us showing what we can do as a group and that’s really exciting moving forward.”

Force coach Simon Cron said Grealy’s impact extended off-field in addition to his on-field feats.

“He continues to be an important cog in our team as you saw from his standout performance on Saturday,” Cron said.

“He brings a lot of humour to the team which is great for the culture. He’s still young with plenty of upside.

“He’s a great player and a great man, who is always wanting to learn and is very receptive to feedback which makes coaching him a pleasure.”

Grealy’s re-signing follows lock Lopeti Faifua re-committing to the team last week — but comes off the back of three important forwards having all signed overseas over the past few months.

Vaiolini Ekuasi, the powerful back-rower who ranks top 10 in the league for tackles and carries and has been one of the Force’s best this season, signed with French Top 14 side US Montauban last week and will depart at the end of the season.

Fellow second-rower and fringe Wallaby Darcy Swain agreed to join fellow French outfit Clermont at season’s end, while weekend hat-trick hero and Argentinian lock Franco Molina signed for Newcastle Red Bull before he even made his Force debut.

While Wallabies forwards Carlo Tizzano, Jeremy Williams, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Tom Robertson and Nick Champion de Crespigny are all contracted beyond the end of this season, the trio of departures will hit their depth.