Cory McGrady is making a habit out of winning.
Now, the Toowoomba Valleys Roosters half is hoping to keep his winning streak running when he runs out for the XXXX Queensland Rangers against the New South Wales Pioneers at Davies Park on June 30.
After being signed with the Gold Coast Titans when he was just 13 and coming through the Sydney Roosters NYC program, McGrady has landed in Toowoomba where his Roosters won the competition in 2018 and he took out the John McDonald Medal for man of the match in the grand final.
The 26-year-old half carried his form into the 48th annual Central Region 47th Battalion carnival, where he led the Toowoomba Clydesdales through an undefeated tournament.
He then steered the Central Crows to second place in the Queensland Rugby League state championships where his form effectively demanded selection in the 2019 Rangers side.
"It's my first time for the Rangers, I'm really stoked, I'm excited to be playing," McGrady said.
It's fair to say that McGrady is loving his football right now.
But while he will be steering the Rangers around the park alongside Crows teammate and Gympie product Caleb Daunt, McGrady took one look at the forwards picked in the side and declared it will be them who make the difference against NSW.
"I reckon the size of our forwards, we can get them up the middle," he said.
"They are really big boys."
Match: QLD Rangers v NSW Pioneers
Round 1 -
home Team
QLD Rangers
away Team
NSW Pioneers
Venue: Davies Park
McGrady, who idolises Darren Lockyer, was earmarked as a child prodigy by the Titans before moving to the Roosters program.
For now, he is happy playing A-Grade rugby league and is enjoying the success that has come his way in recent years.
But he said if the Rangers opportunity meant he could have another crack at the Intrust Super Cup, he would relish the chance.
"I'm just taking it game by game, playing in local league at the moment I am pretty happy playing there," McGrady said.
"But if anything pops up before I get too old, I will grab it with both hands.
"Intrust would be the goal for me, I reckon, if an opportunity to go and have a crack in the pre-season came along.
"But I am just happy to be playing for Valleys at the moment."
