The Queensland Reds have turned to the son of a former New Zealand rugby league captain for a much-needed boost to their playmaking stocks.
Former Auckland Blues talent Matt McGahan will arrive at the Super Rugby franchise next season following the departures of Quade Cooper (Melbourne Rebels) and Jono Lance (Worcester).
A former Melbourne Storm junior himself, McGahan's father Hugh played 32 rugby league Tests for New Zealand and was a captain-coach of Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.
The Sydney-born, New Zealand-raised playmaker has spent the last two years with Japanese club Yamaha Jubilo.
But the prospect of being coached by Brad Thorn was enough to trigger the 25-year-old's move to Ballymore, where he is expected to act as back-up to 20-year-old No.10 Hamish Stewart.
"Just knowing his history, but the humbleness of him too," McGahan said of Thorn.
"What he did in the game of rugby and rugby league, not too many people have done and and I'm just really looking forward to it."
McGahan knocked back rugby union approaches to accept a contract with the Storm out of high school.
But after three years in the system without a first grade appearance he returned to New Zealand to play Mitre 10 Cup with North Harbour.
He went on to notch 12 Super Rugby caps with the Auckland Blues between 2015-2016, before heading to Japan.
"It's a good opportunity to come back and play Super Rugby again," he said.
"I felt a couple of years ago there's still some left in me and 25 is a good age to reignite the hunger inside again."
Outside backs Jock Campbell and Teti Tela have also signed two and one-year deals respectively to complete what will be a relatively low-profile Reds backline in 2019.
In comparison, the Waratahs boast Test contingent Bernard Foley, Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps and Israel Folau while the Melbourne Rebels will field Cooper, Will Genia, Matt Toomua, Jack Maddocks, Marika Koroibete, Sefa Naivalu and Dane Haylett-Petty.
Fit-again Wallaby Samu Kerevi will return for the Reds in what is otherwise a team laced with fresh faces.
The Reds finished last of the four Australian franchises in Thorn's debut season, boasting a 6-10 record.
