Under 12 months have passed from his debut at Pipeline and it was only April when he produced a memorable display at home in the Newcastle Cup.

Now, aged 21 in his rookie season, he will contest the inaugural World Surf League finals and finds himself within reach of the 2021 title.

Newcastle's very own four-time world champion Mark Richards describes Cibilic's meteoric rise as a "phenomenal achievement".

"Just to get there and be a contender in his rookie year is a phenomenal achievement," Richards told the Newcastle Herald.

"He should be incredibly proud of just making it. There's a lot of other guys on tour not in the final who would have been very happy to finish fifth and have a shot at the world title."

IN THE NEWS:

Cibilic has only twice missed the round of 16 in seven stops this campaign, backing up a semi-final appearance in Newcastle with quarters at Narrabeen and the decider at Rottnest Island.

He cemented fifth spot on the rankings with back-to-back ninths overseas - Kelly Slater's US ranch and most recently Mexico.

"A lot of guys when they qualify actually have a bad year on tour, but Morgs has thrown that theory completely out the window and basically gone crazy," Richards said.

"Ever since he knocked off John John Florence at Newcastle, he's basically been on a tear really."

What's impressed Richards most has been Cibilic's style.

"Probably the really impressive thing, he's done this with pure, on rail, carving surfing," he said.

"I think if you asked any surfer on the planet how they would love to be able to surf and they would say on rail with great rail turns, which he's doing

"And he's having this success in an era when there's so much emphasis on aerial maneuvers and the Brazilian's aerial game. He's sort of defying the odds."

The WSL finals window at California's Lower Trestles is between Friday (AEST) and September 17.

Whenever competition gets underway Cibilic, in order to hold aloft the trophy, will need to work his way through the field and overcome Conner Coffin, Filipe Toledo and Italo Ferreira in knockout heats before beating No.1 Gabriel Medina in a best-of-three series.

Richards, aged 22 when he claimed his first world crown 1979 courtesy of the more traditional first-past-the-post method, described Cibilic's road to glory as a "near insurmountable task" and a "big ask", but "not impossible".

Cibilic, joined by fellow Aussie surfers Sally Fitzgibbons and Steph Gilmore in the women's draw, was presented with his official rash shirt on Wednesday (AEST).

Merewether Surfboard Club president Craig Long said even though the state's ongoing coronavirus lockdown means members can't gather together to watch Cibilic in action, they will be supporting him from afar and remain "proud" of his efforts to reach the WSL finals.

Fellow local Jackson Baker, who leaves for the Challenge Series next week in a bid to join Cibilic and Ryan Callinan on the main tour, said he would be tuning in before heading away.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: