McAlister possesses the size, athleticism and skill to excel in the 10, 12 or 13 jersey, and has played all three positions for his North Harbour NPC team.

He dazzled in his Super 12 debut in 2004 with some fancy footwork on South African soil while Carlos Spencer was recovering from a broken jaw, and has been an intergal part of the Blues side in 2005.

However, he was desperately unlucky when his All Blacks debut was halted by a strained hamstring in training on the 2004 end-of-year tour.

McAlister is a reliable goal-kicker, is rapidly developing the tactical abilities of a traditional first-five and complements his potent offensive arsenal with a rock-solid defensive game.

In 2002, McAlister scored 99 points for the New Zealand Schools team, 82 for New Zealand Under -9 and 89 in his debut NPC season — he finished the year being named as one of five Promising Players by New Zealand's Rugby Almanack and the IRB's Under 19 Player of the Year.

He spent his primary school years in Lancashire in England, representing the county in age-group soccer and Rugby League teams, before returning to New Zealand.