‘Not an accident’: The qualities behind Fraser McReight’s historic award win

When Les Kiss first met Fraser McReight, the qualities that would make the Queensland Reds and Wallabies flanker a future John Eales Medallist were already clear to see. “It’s not an accident where he’s got to,” Kiss said this week, after McReight made history.

McReight received two awards at the 2026 Rugby Australia Awards, capping off a career-best 12 months in gold. The openside became the first Queensland player in 20 years to be named a John Eales Medallist, which is awarded to the Wallabies’ players’ player.

Eales himself presented the prestigious award to McReight, who was celebrated with a deafening cheer of support from the Wallabies and others in attendance. But after walking off the stage and down some steps, McReight declared,“I can get a lot better.”

It’s that constant thirst for improvement that led McReight to that moment, as Kiss explained the next morning. The two spent a few Super Rugby Pacific campaigns together at the Reds, with Kiss bestowing captaincy duties upon McReight ahead of the 2026 season.

“From the first day I met Fraser, there’s a deep drive in him, a deep drive to just become so good at his craft. He’s a hard marker on himself, definitely, but that deep drive is essential for that 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 dialled in – in a way it’s a selfish pursuit isn’t it? Selfish but he’s an unbelievable team man and he knows how to bring people together with him.

“He has that capacity so say, my world is this, whatever you guys think I’m just going to try and win this world. But at the same time, his sense of being able to be relatable right across the team, build culture… his qualities are fantastic.

“Craft is great because he’s driven, he practises it. Has great leadership qualities and has a wonderful team-first 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 backrower maintained that high-level throughout Super Rugby Pacific and another 10 Test appearances since then.

Jeremy Paul, Rob Valetini and Dave Rennie have all spoken highly of McReight in recent years, with the Queenslander forging his own legacy in the golden number seven jersey – which was worn for many years by four-time John Eales Medal winner Michael Hooper.

McReight produced a stunning performance against Six Nations giants France in July, winning two turnovers, scoring a couple of tries, and making 17 tackles. The Wallaby’s try-saving efforts were celebrated at the RA Awards too, taking home Defender of the Year.

“It’s the nature of the beast because that’s what it is, it’s the nature of the beast that you’re never quite satisfied,” Kiss told reporters.

“And his pursuit of being greater, you see it every day, that’s for sure.

“That quality is essential for someone like him but I think that’s something that’s throughout the whole group to tell you the truth. Becoming more self-aware about how much more is in them in a whole and he’s an individual that epitomises that wonderfully on a daily basis.

“It’s not an accident where he’s got to. He’s got a talent, he works on the craft around it, he’s driven and he just wants to be better every day.”