Wests Tigers sign Rugby winger John Grant

[gold_on_black]

any bloke who outruns hayne and morris and is over 100kg at only 21/22 is welcome to play in my team. Looks like he is athletically gifted…
we would have a huge backline consisting of grant(102kg) lawrence(96kg) tuiqiri(104kg) ayshford(92kg) and reddy(92kg) = average playing weight of 97.2kg

I know we have a good opportunity this year but next year looks very bright

 

[Guest]

any bloke who outruns hayne and morris and is over 100kg at only 21/22 is welcome to play in my team. Looks like he is athletically gifted…
we would have a huge backline consisting of grant(102kg) lawrence(96kg) tuiqiri(104kg) ayshford(92kg) and reddy(92kg) = average playing weight of 97.2kg

I know we have a good opportunity this year but next year looks very bright

Ayshford is actually 100kg now.

 

[hammertime]

I'm excited about Grant, but judging by the highlight reel, I don't think we should get too ahead of ourselves. There isn't much of him having to put his body on the line in there.

I'm not sure what he might be like defensively and if he has the guts to hit a NRL defensive line with speed. It's no good having the size and speed if you don't use it.

I'm looking forward to seeing though!!

 

[Yossarian]

I'm excited about Grant, but judging by the highlight reel, I don't think we should get too ahead of ourselves. There isn't much of him having to put his body on the line in there.

I'm not sure what he might be like defensively and if he has the guts to hit a NRL defensive line with speed. It's no good having the size and speed if you don't use it.

I'm looking forward to seeing though!!

Yep that's my thoughts too Hammer - cautiously optimistic! He may well turn out to be a fantastic signing but he may just as well not. On the plus side he seems to have a hunger to make a success of the switch and he's gone some fantastic building blocks. But it's wait and see at this stage

 

[dermo]

His defence will be good as he is currently playing in the Aussie 7's team and with the nature of sevens being mostly 1 on 1 defence, most 7's players are quite good defenders.

 

[gold_on_black]

any bloke who outruns hayne and morris and is over 100kg at only 21/22 is welcome to play in my team. Looks like he is athletically gifted…
we would have a huge backline consisting of grant(102kg) lawrence(96kg) tuiqiri(104kg) ayshford(92kg) and reddy(92kg) = average playing weight of 97.2kg

I know we have a good opportunity this year but next year looks very bright

Ayshford is actually 100kg now.

98.8 kg average…sounds good to me

 

[alien]

i think we should try him at fullback.

 

[Drewby]

I can't help but think he's actually a replacement for lote… He's a left winger, and with lotes injury ridden season they might look to lote to mentor this kid into league over his final season...

Not a bad guy to learn off, especially because he's done the switch first hand!
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[TuiTui]

i think we should try him at fullback.

i hope this is what the coaching staff are thinking also.

 

[Yossarian]

I can't help but think he's actually a replacement for lote… He's a left winger, and with lotes injury ridden season they might look to lote to mentor this kid into league over his final season...

Not a bad guy to learn off, especially because he's done the switch first hand!
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I think you're reading too much into it. You don't recruit a guy with no league experience from club rugby to replace an international league player. Lote's had a rough time this year but the previous year he had no dramas. Grant's recrtuitment needs to be judged on its own merits rather than who he could replace. If he's a good league player he will find his own position in the NRL side.

 

[Citizen_Tiger]

I know a few boys that have played with and against him they say he's lightning but has the heart the size of a pea.

I have seen him play in the Shute Shield and he goes good but like said previously its a lot different to the NRL. Most local A grade rugby league sides would be at the top of the Shute Shield ladde.r

That's a pretty big call….

I don't think they'd be too many A grade league sides who'd be on top of the Shute Shield. But then again ignorance is bliss....

I'd be interested in knowing the boys who played with and against who think he's got a heart like a pea. If Matt Burke says that he rates John Grant then I think that is a fair enough recommendation for me.

Pretty sure Matt Burke has never played with or against John Grant and im also pretty sure that what I said about Grant is common knowledge in Rugby circles…

There's nothing like having a little 'common knowledge', particularly when there's no pressure to be specific. You could send me a private message if you like, the chances are that I will know those critics that seem to be so familiar with the size of his heart. The critics that I know have a high opinion of Grant. I've watched him play three or four times at TG Milner and he's an outstanding winger, with great pace, good step and a willingness to challenge defences. His defensive game is sound, as is his kicking game. I think a very astute signing, the space afforded him in RL will suit his skill set.

I liked your astute observation that most A grade teams would handle Shute Shield teams. It'd be my preference to include the set pieces in such a game. It's be entertaining to see 8 large blokes turned into pretzls come the first scrum

 

[Citizen_Tiger]

Hot off the official site!!
Wests Tigers has today announced the signing of one of the most talented rugby union players in powerful winger John Grant.

Grant currently plays first grade rugby for undefeated Eastwood in the Shute Shield competition. The 22-year-old has signed a one-year deal with Wests Tigers for the 2012 season. He can also play full-back and centre.

The nephew of former Balmain Tigers winger, James Grant, the winger stands at 195cm and weights 102kg. He was the leading tryscorer in the 2010 Shute Shield with 22 tries.

A former student at St Ignatius College, Grant won the GPS 100 metre title in a time of 10.8 seconds. He finished second in last year’s Gatorade Bolt race behind Wallaby Lachie Turner but beat home NRL players Jarryd Hayne, Greg Inglis, Ben Barba. Josh Morris and Nathan Gardner.

A member of the Australian Rugby Sevens squad,Grant graduated from the Junior Waratahs and the NSW Academy squads during the summer of 2009/10.

Grant says he is looking forward to the challenge of playing in the toughest rugby league competition in the world.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time in Rugby Union as it presented me with some great opportunities to develop my game,’’ Grant said.

“I’m now looking forward to the next chapter of my career in Rugby League. Wests Tigers is a great Club and I can’t wait to get started with them next year under the direction of Australian Test Coach Tim Sheens.”

Wests Tigers CEO Stephen Humphreys said the Club was delighted to be able to secure the services of John Grant.

“John is an extremely talented winger who possesses great speed, a solidly built frame, and has good hands,’’ Humphreys said.

“He is one of the most exciting prospects in Rugby Union and Wests Tigers is delighted to have secured his signature.

"I’m sure John is very much looking forward to be able to develop his game not only under Tim Sheens but alongside the likes of some of our exciting backs in Benji Marshall, Lote Tuqiri and Chris Lawrence to name a few.”

Check out videos of here of John Grant in action

WATCH JOHN GRANT RACE IN THE GATORADE BOLT

WATCH JOHN GRANT HIGHLIGHTS PACKAGE

Watch John Grant play for Eastwood in Shute Shield:
Sat, July 30: vs Parramatta, TG Milner Field, 3pm
Sat, August 13: vs Eastern Suburbs, Woollahra Oval, 3pm
Sat, August 20: vs West Harbour, TG Milner Field, 3pm
Sat, August 27: vs Penrith, Nepean Rugby Park, 3pm
Sat, September 3: vs Northern Suburbs, TG Milner Field, 3pm
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Never thought I'd see the day that a fine Old Christian Bros boy like you Stephen Humphries, would sign a product of the Jesuits….....tsk, tsk, tsk :slight_smile:

 

[Citizen_Tiger]

I know a few boys that have played with and against him they say he's lightning but has the heart the size of a pea.

I have seen him play in the Shute Shield and he goes good but like said previously its a lot different to the NRL. Most local A grade rugby league sides would be at the top of the Shute Shield ladde.r

ridicuolous comment in regards to the Shute Shield. Shute shield is clearly not NRL, but is a very good standard.

Have seen heaps of blokes come from A grade and bundy cup and stuff thinking they'll kill it and play first grade, some get to first grade, most dont, even at the weaker clubs, i know it is a leaguie tradition to bag rugby and say how much better the league players are and all the rest, but a dominate player in the Shute Shield is a quality footballer, dont worry about that. Not all are suited to league, just as not all league players are suited to union.

Spot on, our lower grades are littered with ex RL players who've found out the hard way. Mind you, we have some awesome Holy Cross boys, that place is an absolute factory when it comes to turning out footy players

 

[Citizen_Tiger]

Hmm funny.

I was a year or two ahead of him but don't remember him at all.
Must have come good late

Jesus, the administrator is an old Jesuit as well? Do something Humphries :smiley:

 

[thenextlaurie]

Excited about this prospect, he is a big unit who is strong fast and IMO he will be made to look good on the end of our backline and looks like he knows his way to the try line! Will be interesting to see if he can transfrom into a leaguie but given his age and ability he wont let the tigers down especially if on an incentive based contract or on the cheap.

 

[Tigerdale]

any bloke who outruns hayne and morris and is over 100kg at only 21/22 is welcome to play in my team. Looks like he is athletically gifted…
we would have a huge backline consisting of grant(102kg) lawrence(96kg) tuiqiri(104kg) ayshford(92kg) and reddy(92kg) = average playing weight of 97.2kg

I know we have a good opportunity this year but next year looks very bright

we'd be the only club in the NRL where the backline outweigh the forward pack :wink:

 

[Spartan117]

any bloke who outruns hayne and morris and is over 100kg at only 21/22 is welcome to play in my team. Looks like he is athletically gifted…
we would have a huge backline consisting of grant(102kg) lawrence(96kg) tuiqiri(104kg) ayshford(92kg) and reddy(92kg) = average playing weight of 97.2kg

I know we have a good opportunity this year but next year looks very bright

Agree here but can he catch the ball?

 

[supercoach]

Talking to a x Randwick Fgrader who has been coaching in Europe for some time and he just could not believe rugby did not try and sign him up long term. He tried to get him last year to join his side in the Heineken cup but he said he wanted to give the Australian scene a go before heading to Europe. He was dirty that he did not contact him before signing with league as he would have been able to offer heaps more. Anyway should be interesting if he makes the grade, huge learning curve

 

[BalmainJnr]

any bloke who outruns hayne and morris and is over 100kg at only 21/22 is welcome to play in my team. Looks like he is athletically gifted…
we would have a huge backline consisting of grant(102kg) lawrence(96kg) tuiqiri(104kg) ayshford(92kg) and reddy(92kg) = average playing weight of 97.2kg

I know we have a good opportunity this year but next year looks very bright

Agree here but can he catch the ball?

Pretty safe hands on this bloke from what I have seen of him in the shute shield

 

[Tigerdazz]

I think his in the right team and fullback will be his position..with Moltzen departing at the end of this year, I can see sheensy giving him the no1 position to grow into next year.