Standing alongside his Kangaroos teammates at Shelly Beach, just days before the finale to the rugby league season, Harry Grant’s thoughts drift back to Christmas Day eight years ago.
Grant found himself on a beach that day, too, when a time of celebration almost turned to tragedy. While surfing and sunbaking with the family, Grant heard cries for help that he initially mistook for the shrieks of seagulls.
“It was a mother and daughter, they got stuck in a rip and got taken out a fair way,” Grant said of that fateful day at Oxley Beach in Port Macquarie. “Me and my Dad and Mum were on the beach and me and Dad jumped in.
“It was definitely a bit hairy. The daughter couldn’t really swim well and got stuck in the rip. The mother jumped in behind to try to help her and they both got stuck.
“We were just lucky that we had spent a bit of time at the beach and understood the water at the time. Anyone in the same situation would do the same thing. I’m just glad we were there.”
Which brings us back to Shelly Beach. The Kangaroos spent time at the Central Coast foreshore this week, spending time with kids from the local nippers and surf club to spread awareness about water safety.
Harry Grant with his Kangaroos teammates at Shelly Beach on the Central Coast on Thursday.Credit: James Brickwood
The day’s events had been planned some time ago, but the importance of water safety was underlined in tragic circumstances earlier this week when 11-year-old Laith Alaid drowned after being swept away by a current at The Entrance, just three kilometres north of Shelly Beach.
“[Dangerous situations] happen so often, on so many different occasions,” Grant said. “That’s why the nippers and surf life-saving clubs and the lifeguards are so important. It’s awesome spending time with the kids at the nippers at Shelly Beach Surf Club.
“The [players] are getting into the water, having a bit of fun and feeling what the kids get up to. It’s really an important time to spread a bit of awareness about beach safety and how dangerous the beach can be at times.”
Grant’s thoughts also drift to the Tongan wave that will be coming his way on Sunday. The Australians will meet Tonga at a sold-out CommBank Stadium in the Pacific Championships final.
It is a chance for Australia to atone for the shock 30-0 loss to the Kiwis in the corresponding game last year.
Tongan fans dominated the Suncorp Stadium crowd in last month’s Test against Australia.Credit: Getty Images
“As Kangaroos, we expect to be better than what we were last year,” Grant said. “The exciting thing is that this is a new group, trying to make our own statement. That’s probably a bit of the motivation for this team.
“We’ve had a big couple of games, the game against Tonga was a bit scrappy but we really improved in some areas against New Zealand.
“It’s about just bringing it all together for this one. Tonga have been awesome in this campaign, they were tough when we versed them in the first game.
“They started fast and played their game against New Zealand, so we’re definitely expecting a big one. We’re also expecting a fair bit of red in the crowd as well.”
While Grant’s focus is on the Kangaroos, the star hooker hopes club side Melbourne comes to terms with Ryan Papenhuyzen during the pre-season. Ryan Papenhuyzen is a free agent now that the November 1 deadline has lapsed and the fullback hasn’t taken up an extension offer.
“I know what Paps brings to our footy club and he’s a pretty cluey guy, he will make the best decision for himself and his footy,” Grant said.
“I won’t be putting any pressure on him at all with that. What I will say is it’s pre-season, and we’ll be ripping in knowing that Paps is gonna be there in 2025 and that’s pretty exciting.”
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