Local Sports Star Nominee Jason Gregoraci proves to be a big talent

Rugby league players who underestimate eight-year-old Jason Gregoraci are constantly proven wrong.

Jason Gregoraci, 8. Picture: Damian Shaw

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Rugby league players who underestimate eight-year-old Jason Gregoraci are constantly proven wrong.

He is the “smallest kid with the biggest tackles”, his mother Danielle Schofield said.

“People usually underestimate him because of his size and so they target and run at him but he’ll pull out the biggest tackles and he’ll have the crowd cheering for him.

Opponents who underestimate Jason are often left surprised.

“He has no fear when it comes to tackles — he’s straight in there.”

Jason’s love for rugby league sees him play on the wing for two clubs — the under-8s with Doonside Roos and under-9s for the North West Hurricanes.

Jason also trains three days a week, in addition to competing on Saturday and Sunday.

“He runs out of class saying, ‘Mum is training on?’ and ‘Hurry up, I don’t want to be late!’,” Ms Schofield said.

“He is up the crack of dawn on the weekends and straight into his footy gear — nothing upsets Jason more than when the games are rained out.”

Jason was awarded the Brave Heart trophy in the under-7s this year, constantly receives medals for most improved, and has “back-to-back man of the match”, Ms Schofield said.

“I have been surprised — he’s always been the smallest one on his team but he’s improving so much over the years, and his runs and tackles are improving week by week,” she said.

Jason has been nominated for the Young Sporting Spirit Individual award.

Other categories include Young Sporting Spirit Team and Service to Sport.

Nominate at localsportsstars.com.au/newslocal.