Last updated 13:09, Thursday, 25 September 2008

Whitehaven schoolboy Gregg McNally has captured the imagination like few young Cumbrian rugby league players before him. But if his sporting life had taken a different turn, he could have been looking at a whole new ball game – with Carlisle United.

Gregg McNally

Gregg was on United’s books for a couple of years from Under-10 level, and even had a look at Blackburn Rovers, falling at the last hurdle after successfully negotiating two trials with the Premiership outfit.

Travelling to Carlisle three times a week, plus a match on Sunday, took its toll on the promising young midfielder. And he has no regrets over taking the oval ball option.

“I had to travel an hour to training and I got sick of that, being a young lad,” he explained. “All my mates starting playing rugby, and I thought I’d go back to it. I’m glad I did. It was probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

Perhaps it was not a surprise. After all, rugby league is in his blood.

Now 17, he recalls hawking around water bottles, aged six, for Whitehaven amateur club Kells’ Under-eights, then coached by his dad Tony. He later joined Haven’s fledgling scholarship scheme as an Under-12, one of only five inducted in his age group, while continuing to progress with Kells, long famed for nurturing junior talent.

Fast forward to March last year, and Gregg earned his first major headlines leading Whitehaven High School’s Year 11s to the Carnegie Champion Schools title.

Already signed on a three-year professional contract with Haven, the scrum-half notched three tries in the final against a Hull school and landed a last-gasp conversion with the scores tied at 22-all.

His school was later selected to represent England in the European Federation Under-16s championship in Serbia. Gregg made plenty of friends on the trip – though few if any had French accents.

“After the first day, the French realised we were the only people who could beat them, and they tried to psychologically outdo us,” Gregg said. “They threw water and banana skins. It was nice to get revenge on them.”

His payback came on the pitch, Whitehaven School beating the French national side in the final, with try-scorer Gregg, naturally, man-of-the-match. He said: “I didn’t think it could get much better. But obviously it has recently.”

Despite his huge promise, Gregg had expected to merely continue making progress in Haven’s Under-21 side this year. Though new boss Ged Stokes clearly had other ideas.

The Kiwi coach had Gregg and fellow teenage talent Chris Smith travel several times with the first-team squad early this term to get used to the testing new environment.

Their big chance came in May against Salford, of all teams, the National League One title favourites. And on live TV, courtesy of Sky Sports.

“We’d been 18th and 19th men for five games, and Ged then told us we’d be seven and 14 against Salford,” recalled Gregg, who had all day to mull over that night’s game, as it was a teacher training day and he was off school.

He stuck to his usual pre-match routine and went for a walk to clear his mind.

“I was chuffed when it came along, pretty nervous but the other lads were brilliant, relaxing me,” he added. “We were told to go out and enjoy it, have fun.

“Me and Chris talked to Ged, Gary Broadbent and senior players, who gave us little tips. We took them on board.”

And some. Smith was a steadying influence at hooker, showing great potential, but it was McNally, with a remarkable hat-trick, who captured the headlines.

Gregg describing the tense finale as “the longest eight minutes of my life,” as the hosts held on for a famous 26-22 victory.

His dream year hit new heights when selected for the England Academy tour to Australia, the only player from outside Super League to be given the honour.

At first, he thought someone was playing a prank when told of his call up. It was no joke, however, when he failed to win a place in the First Test in Brisbane.

“I was very disappointed and thought I wasn’t good enough to play,” he revealed. “I felt really down but a lot of people at home cheered me up. I had a lot of texts and phone calls. They knew I could do it.”

England suffered a 68-6 defeat at the hands of the rampant Australian Schoolboys in Brisbane, and Gregg told coach Basil Richards he was determined to prove himself the following week in training.

His extra work paid off as he earned a start in the Second Test in Townsville. His mum burst in to tears when told the good news.

England closed the gap on the hosts, losing 17-10, Gregg scoring a try before falling victim to cramp in the second-half and being replaced.

On his return home, he was surprised to be thrust back in to the first-team for the trip to Leigh, where he faced one of the sternest tests of his career.

He must have felt he was back in Australia when flattened by Leigh’s Andy Hobson in a thunderous tackle that earned the prop a red card.

“I wasn’t too happy,” Gregg said, with understatement. “I didn’t know where I was for a minute.”

Later, he gamely returned to the fray, a slightly wiser player.

“You learn. A lot of people are saying I should put my elbows up when I pass the ball, to protect myself.”

The good news for Haven, is that Gregg plans to finish his A-level studies at Whitehaven School, which have another year to run. He is committed to see out his Haven contract, which expires at the end of 2009.

As for the longer-term, he says he hasn’t come to any decisions, though a string of Super League clubs are believed to be closely monitoring his progress. He is clearly ambitious, as befits a player with his talent.

“I’m quite chuffed to be recognised by clubs like that. One day I hope to play Super League and test myself at the highest level,” said Gregg, a kid with time on his side.

MARTIN MORGAN