Rebels now 'genuine contenders'
The Rebels moved to the top of the Australian Conference with a 36-14 bonus-point victory over the Cheetahs on Friday.
An intercept try in the dying seconds gave the Rebels a crucial bonus point, which could prove significant in the Aussie conference.
"It will be [vital], no doubt," McGahan said of the Tamati Ellison try.
"It was really fitting it was Tamati who scored it in the final play of the game, because his wife had a newborn baby just before kick-off and he stayed here and played the game.
"He gave his all for the team and made a big sacrifice."
The coach also felt his team is beginning to show some championship qualities.
"We're pretty happy with the scoreboard and the bonus point but we need to address a few things with the way that we got there," McGahan said post-match.
"It was a pretty hard-earned game for us, we could have made it a bit easier for ourselves but we made it difficult with a few individual things that we need to tidy up that have been there for a few weeks.
"At the end of the day, the Cheetahs have been fair this season so to play the way we did in the second-half, the spirit of the group didn't want to give in."
The Rebels next face the Blues on the road, before returning to Melbourne to face the Brumbies on May 13.
