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international
When Les Kiss first met Fraser McReight, the qualities that made Queensland Red and the Wallabies flanked by future medalist John Eales was already clear. “It’s not by accident that it’s where it has to be,” Kiss said this week, after McReight made history.
McReight received two awards at Rugby 2026 Australia Awards, closing a career-best 12 months in gold. Openside became the first Queensland player in 20 years to win the John Eales Medal, which is awarded to a Wallabies player.
Eales himself presented the prestigious award to McReight, who was celebrated to deafening cheers of support from the Wallabies and others in attendance. But after walking off the stage and down the stairs, McReight declared, “I can do a lot better.”
It was that constant thirst for improvement that brought McReight to that point, as Kiss explained the next morning. The two spent a few Super Rugby Pacific play together for the Reds, with Kiss giving McReight the captaincy ahead of the 2026 season.
“From the first day I met Frazier, there’s a deep drive in him, a deep drive to just become that good at his craft. He’s a hard marker for himself, definitely, but that deep drive is necessary for the position. When I first met him, I could see why he’s the type of player he is,” Kiss said.
“My growth with him, when he became a leader or a captain, he has a great sense of understanding. The nature of that position, it’s so ingrained – it’s a selfish pursuit in a way, isn’t it? Selfish, but he’s an amazing team man and he knows how to bring people together.”
“He has that capacity, so you say, my world is this, whatever you think, I’m just going to try to conquer this world. But at the same time, his sense of being able to connect throughout the team, build a culture … his qualities are fantastic.”
“The craft is great because it’s driven, he practices it. He has great leadership qualities and he has a wonderful team approach to the whole thing.”
McReight set the tone during last year’s Spring Tour by winning five turnovers and making a team-high number of tackles against England. The full-back has maintained that high level throughout Super Rugby Pacific and 10 more Tests since then.
Jeremy Paul, Rob Valletini and Dave Rennie have all spoken highly of McReight in recent years, with the Queenslander creating his own legacy in the golden number seven jersey – worn for many years by four-time John Eales medalist Michael Hooper.
McReight put in a stunning performance against Six Nations giants France in July, picking up two turnovers, scoring a couple of tries and making 17 tackles. The Wallaby’s save efforts were also celebrated at the RA Awards, taking home Defender of the Year.
“It’s the nature of the beast, because it is what it is, the nature of the beast is that you’re never quite satisfied,” Kiss told reporters.
“And his aspiration to be bigger, you see that every day, that’s for sure.
“That quality is essential for someone like him, but I think it’s something that’s in the whole group to tell you the truth. Becoming more aware of how much more there is in them as a whole and he’s an individual who embodies that wonderfully on a daily basis.”
“It’s no accident. He’s got the talent, he’s working on the craft around it, he’s driving and he just wants to get better every day.”
