Harry Grant is set to be starting hooker for Australia for years to come, but it is a prospect he refuses to entertain ahead of the blockbuster Pacific Cup showdown with New Zealand.
The Kangaroos vice-captain started for the first time for Australia in the 18-0 win over Tonga in Brisbane on Friday night, and the 26-year-old Queensland star is entering the prime of his career.
Grant has NSW hooker Reece Robson snapping at his heels, but with utility Ben Hunt nearing the end of his career there is scope to cement himself long-term as Kangaroos’ No.9 if he can be part of a winning side.
It is not on the Melbourne captain’s mind right now, however, particularly as the Kangaroos lost 30-0 in the Pacific Cup final the last time the two sides met.
Grant came off the bench in that match but bristled at suggestions he was on the cusp of a long stint as a starter after one outstanding display.
“I can’t really look too far ahead,” Grant said ahead of Sunday’s clash in Christchurch.
“I think I have got to build on last week’s game and perform this week.
“I just think if you start looking too far ahead, that’s when the complacency comes in.
“You want to make your teammates and coaching staff proud, and you don’t do that looking too far ahead, you do that by looking at what’s in front of you and what you can control this week.”
The Kangaroos were humiliated by the Kiwis the last time they met, but Grant said dwelling on the past was counter-productive. Their defensive resolve was lacking in 2023, but it is an area a new-look outfit has addressed.
(Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
“It was obviously disappointing (what happened) last year, but we can’t change that. We can’t dwell on that. It is a new team and we can just learn from it,” Grant said.
“I think we are putting things in place to learn from that and go again this week. Defence is a massive one. You win games on defence.
“A lot of guys are fresh to the team and to the Test match arena and they are bringing their strengths and thriving in camp.
“We have addressed last year, but I don’t think this series should be based on last year, or that we should be focusing on that too much.”
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga said after the win over Tonga that he would not make changes to a winning side, so Grant, who played 74 minutes at Suncorp Stadium, will play big minutes again against the Kiwis.
“I think probably 80 minutes is what I’ve been used to this year at club land … but in rep footy, in the past, I have played off the bench and played a bit of that tandem role with Dozer (Hunt),” he said.
“We’ll just see how things go over the next couple of weeks.”
The Kangaroos trained at Ballymore in Brisbane on Tuesday and will be based in Christchurch from Wednesday.
© AAP