In just one season since joining the Parramatta Eels, Wiremu Greig with his 192cm and 124kg frame has asserted himself as one of the leading front-rowers in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.
Another promising Kiwi forward to make his way to Australia, Greig impressed in the NZRL National Championships as a teenager which led him to signing a development contract with the North Queensland Cowboys.
It was Parramatta who were next to show a keen interest in the young prop when Greig – aged 21 and yet to make an NRL appearance – represented the Maori All-Stars in 2021 for the annual Harvey Norman All-Stars clash.
While only playing 20 minutes from the bench in a thrilling 10-all draw, the experience propelled him into rich a vein of form in the NSW Cup followed by an NRL debut.
It took as little as three matches in the NSW Cup before Greig had consecutive first grade call-ups in Rounds Six and Seven, where the Eels had two huge wins over the Canberra Raiders (35-10) and Brisbane Broncos (46-6).
Greig finished the 2021 season with 10 matches for the NSW Cup side that claimed third position, and his mobility in the middle gave the likes of Nathaniel Roache, Jakob Arthur, Jordan Rankin and Sean Russell the momentum they needed in attack.
The 22-year-old’s performances kept improving as the season progressed – Greig finished the year with a try and 12 tackle busts while averaging 134 run metres, 56.1 post-contact metres and 22.2 tackles.
Having ended the 2021 season as arguably the form prop in the NSW Cup and with some experience in the top grade already, Greig is set to build on that momentum in 2022.
Part of a strong forward pack across the board in Eels coach Brad Arthur’s NRL squad, Greig looks ready to go whenever his services are required.
