He was announced as the winner at the Australia Day awards ceremony at Cameron Park on Sunday, January 26.

Having played for both the first and reserve grade teams, McGregor was instrumental in helping the each side win their premiership matches against the Dubbo CYMS in 2019.

In his citation it read that McGregor is an inspirational rugby league player who has devoted his career to the Wellington Cowboys, adding the he epitomises all that is good about country sports people.

He has attained representative honours in juniors and seniors and has many qualities to his game.

"He is a true leader, always leading by example and not asking anyone to do anything that he wasn't prepared to do,"it read.

"He is a quiet and humble man who would do anything for anyone. He has played many years of rugby league but most of all he has displayed incredible loyalty to the Wellington Cowboys.

That citation added that despite having offers to play elsewhere, the staunch club man has never abandoned his hometown and that Wellington was grateful to have him as part of the club and history.

"His early sporting career began playing rugby league for the Stuart Town Ironbark's, he also played cricket for Stuart Town and Wellington and the Macquarie Valley Western Zone representative teams," it read.

"He was playing junior rugby league, where he played under 18s when he was just 16 and he is still going at the ripe age of 40.

"He represented Group 11 All Stars against Indigenous All Stars in 2013. He has represented Group 11 seniors many times over the past 20 years.

"Last year the recipients capped off an almighty career when he capped off his first Group 11 premiership medal. After years of commitment the old man of the team played in reserve grade and was given the honour of playing out the final minutes as first grade won its very first grand final title in 25 years.

"He is a proud man from Stuart Town, a wonderful husband and father, who continuously demonstrates the quality of a role model that everyone should look up to."

In his address to the crowd McGregor said he was thankful, although a little embarrassed to have won.

"You get these awards for doing something that you love and footy is obviously it," he said.

"I just want to thank the committee... for getting nominated and having received the award. I would like to thank my little fan club, my family for supporting me over the last 20 years. It will continue on.

"But most of all when you play a team sport, yes we did win two grand finals but you can't win it without the other 16 blokes that play with you in the team, so I'd like ot thank the two coaches for giving me the opportunity to play in both those grand finals.

"Without the club, volunteers and our supporters you can't play the game that we love, so I just want to thank every body."