Blues rookie Grant takes cues from Maroon greats

Updated June 04, 2012 18:43:05

Panthers prop Tim Grant is ready to use the lessons learnt from Petero Civoniceva to lead New South Wales to victory in next week's State of Origin clash in Sydney.

The Origin debutant says is now ready to put those lessons into practice and upset the Maroons in next week's State of Origin clash in Sydney.

Grant will go head-to-head with former Panthers skipper Petero Civoniceva, and the 24-year-old said it will be a special occasion when he takes on his mentor at the Olympic stadium.

"It's a great opportunity being here and playing against Pet will be a great moment for me as he's helped so much throughout my career," Grant said.

"I've learnt everything from him off the field and now I am playing against him and I am sure I will learn more from that experience too and try to use it to my advantage."

While Grant is full of admiration for the statesmanlike figure of Civoniceva, he credits former Queensland prop Steve Price with opening his eyes to what is required to be an elite-level prop.

"Having the size I always went well in the juniors in the front-row," Grant said.

"But I remember in my debut season playing against Steve Price and I learned a few lessons that night that I still value today.

"It was the way he was working on the field for his team-mates and the amount of stuff he did without the ball that really gave me a better understanding of my position."

Grant will pack down with North Queensland front-rower James Tamou, who had a superb debut in game one, and the 194cm bookend is looking forward to lining up alongside him.

"I've met Jimmy before and no doubt we'll have a good chat over the camp and if I can play anywhere near as good as he did, then I've done well," he said.

Tamou said the opening fixture in Melbourne was like nothing he had ever experienced and can not wait for another chance to run at the Maroons.

"It was easily more intense than in a Test match," the recently-capped Kangaroos rising star said.

"I can remember parts of the game where you run around to get back on-side and they are already running at you.

"I've never experienced that before. Now I have and I'll be ready for game two.

"Tim will be quite an addition to the team. Any team that plays the Penrith Panthers will always do video on him and I am glad I'm on the same team as him."

AAP

Tags: state-of-origin, rugby-league, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted June 04, 2012 18:43:05

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Blues call up Panther Grant

Updated June 03, 2012 17:56:00

Penrith prop Tim Grant is the surprise inclusion in a bulked-up New South Wales State of Origin squad that will attempt to level the series in next week's game two at the Olympic stadium.

The inclusion of Grant in the starting line-up - with skipper Paul Gallen moving back to lock - was one of two changes made by Blues coach Ricky Stuart, with Manly's Anthony Watmough also recalled to the interchange bench after being controversially overlooked for the series opener.

Injured Sea Eagle Tony Williams (back) was unavailable, while Manly utility Jamie Buhrer was dropped after making little impact in the 18-10 loss in Melbourne in Origin I last month.

Buhrer could yet have a role to play however, with Watmough under an injury cloud, the Sea Eagles back rower to have an injection in his troublesome shoulder on Monday in a bid to ensure he is right for Wednesday week's match.

"He's got a couple of vertebrae that are inflamed ... this will be a chance to really speed up the recovery part of the neural problem that he's got," Stuart said.

"He'll miss some sessions early in the piece ... talking to Choc, he's got no dramas about being right for the game."

The inclusion of 24-year-old Grant - who has played just six matches this year due to a calf problem - gives the Blues a monster starting pack with James Tamou alongside him in the front row, with Gallen's shift to lock allowing Stuart the luxury of giving his captain a breather at some stage of the match.

Stuart says the selection of Grant, whom he described as a "big lump of a kid", reflects the growing depth New South Wales enjoys in the front row stocks.

"We're getting to a situation where we are quite lucky with some positions," he said.

"That's one of them in regard to the these young guys coming through and standing up and showing they have the qualities to play Origin football.

"Tim will be a very excited boy right at this moment. I spoke to him ... and he was over the moon."

Stuart has no fears Grant will be intimidated by the heightened atmosphere of the Origin arena.

He also had no question about naming Grant in the front row, which meant Gallen moved to lock.

"To be able to come through and then be able to get a chance to start and put Paul (Gallen) back is a real asset to his quality of form," he said.

Blues squad:

Brett Stewart, Jarryd Hayne, Michael Jennings, Josh Morris, Akuila Uate, Todd Carney, Mitchell Pearce, Tim Grant, Robbie Farah, James Tamou, Glenn Stewart, Greg Bird, Paul Gallen (captain)

Interchange: Trent Merrin, Luke Lewis, Ben Creagh, Anthony Watmough

AAP/ABC

Tags: state-of-origin, rugby-league, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted June 03, 2012 17:16:47

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