A 2013 New Zealand Secondary Schools rep during his final year at Napier Boys' High School, McNicol shifted to the capital in 2014. Regular injuries restricted his provincial rugby to one match for the Hurricanes and four for the Lions this year.
His first season ended with double hip surgery and he fractured his eye socket during the Lions' final pre-season match against Canterbury which forced him out of a large chunk of the ITM Cup season. He made his Lions debut on October 4 against Bay of Plenty in Tauranga and then appeared in the final three games of their season including the championship final loss to the Magpies.
"Hopefully I'm over my injuries. I'm ready to move on. I'm getting in pretty good shape with the Chiefs so hopefully I'll be hissing come Magpies time," McNicol said.
"In the long-term I see myself as a midfielder and I can also play on the wing but for now I'm focusing on fullback and the Chiefs intend to give me game time there during Super Rugby's pre-season games.
"It has been awesome with the Chiefs. It's been really full-on with long days and I've learnt a lot," McNicol said.
He was studying health science when in Wellington but he put those studies on hold when he made the Hurricanes squad. After a chat with Chiefs coach Dave Rennie, McNicol has opted for one paper per each trimester to give him the ideal balance between rugby and studies.
The bloke who scored 12 tries for the title-winning Napier Ross Shield team at Waipukurau in 2008 and represented the Hawke's Bay Ross Shield team as well as the Bay's under-16s and under-18s, admitted it was tough playing for the Lions in their 26-25 championship final loss to the Magpies at McLean Park on October 23.
"With family here in the Bay and lots of mates, I remember getting a bit of stick from the stands but that was expected. I only ever thought I would play in a Magpies jersey on McLean Park," McNicol said.
A former national under-14 beach flags titleholder on the surf lifesaving scene in his younger days and a former New Zealand under-17 volleyball squad member, McNicol has yet to decide which Hawke's Bay club he will link up with.
McNicol is one of five Magpies in the Chiefs squad for next year. All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick and halfback Brad Weber, lock Michael Allardice and utility back Andrew Horrell are the others. With McNicol on the Magpies roster there's a chance at least seven NBHS products could appear in a premiership starting XV together.
McNicol has the potential to join his school's 2009 1st XV No 8, halfback and first five-eighth combination of Gareth Evans, Weber and first five-eighth Ihaia West as well as loosie Trent Boswell-Wakefield, centre Richard Buckman and winger Zac Guildford.
McNicol is looking forward to playing with former age group teammates including centre Jonah Lowe and winger Mason Emerson again.
