This was published 12 years ago
Nothing for granted, but Tigers get a rising star
By Adrian Proszenko
JOHN GRANT is faster than Greg Inglis and Jarryd Hayne and in recent seasons has scored more tries than both combined.
Which is why his uncle, former Balmain star James Grant, reckons he will receive a warmer reception than he himself did upon his arrival at the Tigers. The younger Grant will link with the joint-venture club next year after a successful rugby career for Eastwood.
In the blood … John Grant with his famous uncle James.Credit: James Brickwood
The 22-year-old has been a sensation in the Shute Shield, crossing for a competition-high 22 tries last season. The winger has backed it up with 10 more this year as part of a Woodies team which won 15 consecutive games.
Several NRL clubs, including South Sydney, were keen on him but the opportunity to follow in his uncle's footsteps was too good to pass up.
James Grant, who scored an intercept try in the classic 1989 grand final against Canberra, is stunned that Super Rugby let the powerful winger slip through its fingers.
''It does your head in to think there are players with the ability that John has … and then you have five franchises in Australian rugby that don't look at our home-grown talent,'' he said. ''It sits well with us all that he's at the Tigers. It's the club that gave me an opportunity and it's a great club. The Tigers have got a lot of young outside backs so he's going to have to start at the bottom of the ladder, pretty similar to when I came into the Tigers.
''People are going to say, 'who's he?' and he'll be looking at blokes like Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah and Chris Lawrence thinking 'I've got to get up to that standard real quick'. He's got all the skills and ability to do it, as well as a good work ethic.''
James received a frosty reception during his own transition from union to league. ''I remember when I first went there, Mick Pobjie was in the centres,'' he recalled. ''Warren Ryan and I were sitting down talking when I got introduced to Mick. Warren said, 'can you just take Jimmy aside, teach him all the plays for the centres'. Mick said, 'stuff him, he can learn the same way I did.' I get on really well with Mick Pobjie, he's a lovely bloke, but you've got to work for what you want to get … and that's what John will do.''
John Grant cuts an imposing figure - he stands at 195cm and weighs 102kg. The former St Ignatius student was clocked at 10.8 seconds over 100 metres and briefly flirted with the idea of an athletics career.
''I probably would have done something like the decathlon,'' the player said.
He finished second in last year's Gatorade Bolt race behind Wallaby Lachie Turner but beat NRL players Hayne, Inglis, Ben Barba, Josh Morris and Nathan Gardner. The feat was achieved despite the fact he was only called up on race day following a late scratching - and after a series of torturous training sessions with the Australian Sevens side.
''It was amazing to be asked to run,'' he said. ''Crazy. Just seeing what Usain Bolt is like, how he goes about things, as well as Jarryd Hayne and Greg Inglis, was a great experience,'' he said. ''We had Sevens training the day before and got flogged. When I got the call-up I was 'oh', but you wouldn't miss it for the world.''
Tigers coach Tim Sheens sees Grant as the ideal replacement for Dragons-bound utility Tim Moltzen owing to his ability to play wing, centre and fullback.