Quinn Ngawati is a name not many people will be familiar with, but he is a player to watch out for in the future.

The past year has been a wild ride for the Canadian, who has progressed from high school student to professional rugby league player with the Toronto Wolfpack.

After attending a one-week trial, the man from British Columbia was one of three to be offered a contract ahead of the Wolfpack's Inaugural season in English rugby league's third-tier League 1 competition.

His big break came on July 8 in the 55th minute against the Gloucestershire All Golds when he ran onto the field to become Canada's first professional rugby league player.

Ngawati played his second match for the Wolfpack the following week and days later signed a two-year extension with the club.

But what makes Ngawati's journey to the realms of professional rugby league player extra special is how the sport runs through his blood.

His New Zealand-born father Tony grew up loving the13-man code and introduced his son at a young age.

Tony is a former Auckland age-grade representative and is currently involved with the Canada Ravens, who recently competed at the women's Rugby League World Cup in Australia.

"My Dad was responsible for introducing me to rugby league as that was the game he grew up playing," Ngawati told Newshub.

"Many of the basics and small technical aspects of the game I have been able to learn are a result of his teaching."

But his family connection with the oval ball codes doesn't stop there; Ngawati's uncle is former All Black great Waka Nathan and his cousin is Black Ferns Sevens flyer Tyla Nathan Wong.