Grant is gunning for Petero

BLUES debutant Tim Grant has revealed an unlikely inspiration as he faces the biggest match of his career - Queensland front-rower Petero Civoniceva.

BLUES debutant Tim Grant has revealed an unlikely inspiration as he faces the biggest match of his career - Queensland front-rower Petero Civoniceva.

Grant says phone calls to the 36-year-old Maroons prop even ignited his late charge for a dream NSW jersey.

Struck down by a calf injury in March, the 114kg prop admitted the prospect of playing against Civoniceva in his last Origin campaign saw him plead with Penrith coach Ivan Cleary to defy doctors and let him play. It also drove him to 6am training sessions and radical blood replacement therapy.

"I knew this would be my last chance to play against Petero in Origin," Grant said.

"And I had to do whatever it took to give myself a chance to get there and do it.

"In my mind, Petero is an immortal and he has been my teacher since he arrived in Penrith. But the thing is I have never played against him.

"That is something I had to do so I can tell my kids about it one day. And I also see it, playing against the great man on the Origin stage, as the final stage of my apprenticeship. "For me, he is the best and I have learned so much, but now I need to play against him and test myself. I need to learn my final lesson from him."

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Grant smashed his $70,000 car when he thought his dream was over.

In an act of frustration, he reversed straight into a pole.

"I was out injured and the clock was ticking," Grant said.

"I was feeling good and ready to play. But I went in and the (physiotherapist) ruled me out again. I thought he was joking and when I got in the car I was fuming because I thought that was it for Origin.

"I just wasn't thinking and smashed my car. I went home, turned everything off and sat there angry at the world for a few hours. Then I rang Ivan and demanded to play."

Grant said Civoniceva had been the biggest influence on his career before the Queensland veteran returned to the Broncos this season.

"He came to Penrith and I just idolised him," Grant said.

"He is not the type of bloke that takes you aside, but teaches by example. I would see him taking the hard carries and that's why I would, too.

As unlikely as it might sound, Grant's other inspiration is a female power-walker. An overweight kid thanks to injections to treat his allergy to grass, Grant found discipline from Australian walking star Michelle French.

"Michelle lived next door to me," Grant said. "She was just remarkable. She showed me what it took to do achieve something and get to where you wanted to be.

"Athletics wasn't my thing, but I saw the commitment it took to be a professional. I can remember as a kid that she was always training, always eating right and always a professional. She taught me that you don't have to be the best, you just need to be your best. And only through hard work can you do that.

Grant went to a gym when he was 14 and found a personal trainer. He got down to 60kg.

"I had my heart set on making the Harold Mathews for Penrith," Grant said.

Ten years later, his latest dream is set to become true when he will square off against his hero. "I would love to get one over him," Grant said. "That would be a story to tell the kids."

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