Paul McGregor (rugby league)

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Paul McGregor
fullname = Paul McGregor
nickname = Mary


caption =
country =
position = Centre
currentclub = Retired
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1967|12|31|df=yes
placeofbirth = Wollongong, NSW
countryofbirth = Australia
height = convert|192|cm|ftin|abbr=on
weight = convert|96|kg|stlb|abbr=on
club1 = leagueicon|Illawarra Steelers|size=16 Illawarra Steelers
year1start = 1991
year1end = 1998
appearances1 = 124
tries1 = 44
goals1 = 0
fieldgoals1 = 0
points1 = 176
club2 = leagueicon|St. George Illawarra Dragons|size=16 St. George Illawarra
year2start = 1999
year2end = 2001
appearances2 = 34
tries2 = 13
goals2 = 0
fieldgoals2 = 0
points2 = 52
teamA = leagueicon|Country|16 City Origin
yearAstart = 1991
yearAend = 1992
appearancesA =
triesA =
goalsA =
fieldgoalsA =
pointsA =
teamB =
yearBstart = 1992
yearBend = 1998
appearancesB = 14
triesB = 4
goalsB = 0
fieldgoalsB = 0
pointsB = 16
teamC =
yearCstart = 1994
yearCend = 1997
appearancesC = 3
triesC = 1
goalsC = 0
fieldgoalsC = 0
pointsC = 4
updated =
source =

Paul "Mary" McGregor (born 31 December 1967 in Dapto, New South Wales) is an Australian former rugby league player. He played as a centre three-quarter for the Illawarra Steelers and then the merged St George Illawarra Dragons at the commencement of their joint venture in 1999. He represented New South Wales in the State of Origin and the Australian national rugby league team.

Club career

McGregor played five seasons of first grade at Dapto before being signed by the Steelers at age 23 in 1991. He made his first grade debut in round 1 against the Penrith Panthers at WIN Stadium on 17 March. He played 124 games with the club from 1991 to 1998, scoring 44 tries.

McGregor was the foundation captain of the St.George-Illawarra joint venture from 1999, leading the team into the grand final against the Melbourne Storm. [cite journal | author = Matt Logue | title = Legend Q&A | journal = Rugby League Week | issue =5 March 2008 |pages = pgs 30-31 | publisher = PBLMedia | location = Sydney, NSW | accessdate =2008-07-26 ] He spent time on the sidelines with injury that year and following a shoulder reconstruction he did not play during the entire 2000 season. McGregor returned to the club in 2001 on an incentive based contract and retired at the end of the season, having played 34 games with the joint venture club.

Representative career

McGregor represented the NSW Blues in fourteen State of Origin games between 1992 and 1998. He added a touch of class to the Blues backline in the 1990s with his trademark step and wonderful offloads. He was a powerful runner of the football out wide and provided a great combination with his club teammate, Blues winger Rod Wishart. McGregor scored four tries in Origin and was Man of the Match in game II of the 1997 series.

He represented the Kangaroos in three tests from 1994 to 1997 scoring one try.

McGregor was sidelined by a shoulder injury and so could not represent Scotland at the 2000 Rugby League World Cupcite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/static/in_depth/rugby_league/2000/world_cup/team_profiles/scotland.stm|title=The Teams: Scotland|publisher=BBC|date=2000-01-01|accessdate=2008-03-26]

Coaching career

McGregor joined the Dragons' coaching staff in 2002 as a strength and conditioning coach, a position he also held with the NSW Blues. [cite news|author=Roy Masters|publisher="The Sydney Morning Herald"|title=Dragons put premiership before Origin |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/dragons-put-premiership-before-origin/2007/02/14/1171405294499.html |accessdate=2008-07-26|date=2007-02-15]

References

ources

* cite book | author=Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson |title=The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players |year=2007
publisher="Gary Allen Pty Ltd" |location=Wetherill Park, New South Wales |isbn=9781877082931 |pages=page
*

External links

*StateofOrigin player|202
* [http://www2.hunterlink.net.au/~maajjs/res/wcup1995.htm World Cup 1995 details]
* [http://www.nrlstats.com/archive/players.cfm?PlayerID=215 "Paul McGregor" at "NRL Stats"]