From putting up his posters on his bedroom wall to being presented the international game’s highest individual honour from the NRL Hall of Famer; Harry Grant has come a long way since aspiring to be the next Darren Lockyer as a child.
In a crowded field of finalists that also included inspirational Samoa prop Payne Haas and his Melbourne Storm team-mate Cameron Munster, Grant pipped Kiwi duo Joseph Tapine and Dylan Brown to claim the 2025 International Rugby League Golden Boot award.
Harry Grant in action for Australia in the 2025 Ashes series.
©Grant Trouville / NRL Images
Supported in the audience by brother George and mother Margie – who “outed” Harry as a Lockyer fan by calling out to ask if she could finally take his posters down – the Yeppoon Seagulls junior was presented with the award at a ceremony at RLC Queensland following his series-winning performances in the Ashes where he captained the Kangaroos in the second match of the series.
“Like anyone in Queensland, I was a massive Queensland and Australian fan and loved Darren Lockyer and everything he did, so he sort of inspired me to play,” Grant said following the presentation.
“I knew he was from Roma which [meant] you had to take a bit of a pathway to get to where he got to and he inspired me.
“To receive that award off him, it’s pretty cool and … hopefully what we’re doing can inspire other kids to give it a crack.”
One of Australia’s top performers across the thee-match campaign in England – claiming player of the match honours in the third game – Grant said he was humbled to receive the award and was grateful for the opportunity to experience playing in a series like the Ashes.
“With the Golden Boot, it’s very humbling and obviously the list of names that’s in the shortlist, but then the wider range of players that we got in our game, it’s pretty humbling to receive it,” Grant said.
“But you wouldn’t be standing here without a team, your teammates and everyone that puts time into it.
“It was really enjoyable to be able to take our game international and play international footy overseas; it’s a different experience playing in front of the crowds and those kinds of stadiums and then it was also a very different brand of footy, playing against the Poms and the way that they played Super League week-in, week-out.
599″, “>809”, “>959″]”
data-eqio-prefix=”video-post-screen”
ref=”root”
>
Up Next
/
Replay
Play Next
Grant stands tall once again
“We got a fair taste of that game one and it was probably a lot more physical … there was a fair bit going on that probably people didn’t see, but it was enjoyable and I think international game, the more we can give it opportunities to take it internationally, everyone will jump to that.
“It was a tough series and it was probably a lot more physical in a different way than what you’re used to and the NRL’s so fast and free-flowing where the Poms played a different sort of style of footy, different brand and you do take a little bit of time to adjust and have that in your back pocket.
“But I think the big thing was we were rock solid in terms of our effort and what we put in, it was just our completion or the way that we executed things wasn’t up to standard, but then you can go the other way and say that they [England] forced a fair bit of that with their unpredictability and the way that they did things.”
Kevin Walters congratulations Harry Grant on his award.
©Zain Mohammed / NRL Images
His coach during the Ashes campaign Kevin Walters said Grant deserved his award and also spoke about him being the ‘logical choice’ to captain the side when regular skipper Isaah Yeo was ruled out with injury.
“It’s great to see Harry get the award,” Walters said.
“I feel Harry’s best football is still in front of him, but he’s a great fellow to have on tour, and he’s got that really strong leadership and casual style leadership that I am drawn to as well.
He’s not a dictator, he’s a great person and a great team person as well.
“We’re very fortunate that we’ve got about seven or eight club captains (in the Kangaroos), but Harry was a standout for me, particularly the position that he plays and his work at the Storm and with Queensland; in the leadership roles has been outstanding, so he was the logical choice for mine.”
599″, “>809”, “>959″]”
data-eqio-prefix=”video-post-screen”
ref=”root”
>
Up Next
/
Replay
Play Next
Harry Grant saves his best for last
The Men’s 2025 IRL Golden Boot was judged by Golden Cap recipients Darren Lockyer (Australia), Cameron Smith (Australia), Ruben Wiki (New Zealand), James Graham (England) and Petero Civoniceva (Australia / Fiji), who are among just nine players to have played 50 or more internationals.