Add Category
When an energetic blonde kid from Yeppoon first picked up a footy alongside his older brothers, little did he know he would become the leader of one of the country's biggest sporting clubs.
But Harry Grant's family knew straight away he was destined to do something special in life.
"I think Harry's always been a good little leader," his proud mum Margie Grant says.
"He's been fortunate to have three older brothers keeping him grounded and he's learnt from perhaps some of their mistakes and their good things too."
The Grant family (L-R) George, Paul, Paul Snr, Margie, Billy and Harry. (Supplied: Margie Grant)
The Grant family, including Margie, her husband Paul and those three older siblings, Billy, George and Paul Jnr, will be in the 80,000-strong crowd when Harry leads out the Melbourne Storm in Sunday night's NRL grand final against Penrith.
It will be the Queensland and Australian hooker's first NRL grand final appearance but he won't be daunted by the challenge.
"Harry, being the youngest of the boys, picked up his first footy at a very early age … he actually played two years in the under-6s," Margie said.
Harry hugs fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen after last week's preliminary final win over the Sydney Roosters. (AAP: Joel Carrett)
"There were some fairly intense backyard games contested across many aspects of sports and games."
Paul Snr — a former Brisbane first-grader who played in one of the sport's toughest eras — said he saw the "mongrel" in Harry from a young age.
When Harry was 12, they were told by doctors that a staph infection he was suffering from was so serious that there was a chance he wouldn't make it through the night in hospital.
Harry scores a try for the Storm during Melbourne's finals series campaign. (AAP: Joel Carrett)
"Oh yeah mate, he's tough and a good young fella and he's doing a good job as captain," Paul Snr said.
A man of few words, Paul Snr said he had a simple, hard-nosed message ahead of the biggest moment in his youngest son's NRL career.
"Just have a go you mongrel, that's about all I'd say," he said.
Harry's passion outside of rugby league has always been surfing. (Supplied: Margie Grant)
Riding a wave to the top
Growing up in the coastal Central Queensland town of Yeppoon, if Harry wasn't tackling his older brothers in the backyard, he was catching a wave at his favourite surf spot, Farnborough Beach.
"Our boys never grew up with any Game Boys or PlayStations," Margie said.
"We always encouraged them to be outside and they all played a number of different sports through summer and winter.
The Grant family backyard was a field of dreams for (from left) Paul, Harry, Billy and George. (Supplied: Margie Grant)
"For Harry, surfing has always been his second joy and his down time, where he can just go have a surf and catch a wave and meet up with different people."
Margie said it was this passion for life and adventure that made her youngest son a strong leader.
Harry and his brothers attended renowned Queensland rugby league nursery St Brendan's College in Yeppoon. (Supplied: St Brendan's College)
"When Harry puts his head to something, he becomes really passionate about it and he's been like that since he was a little fella," she said.
"That's probably helped him with the Storm captaincy this year and he's embraced it entirely."
Harry celebrates with teammate Will Warbrick during their semi-final victory over the Cronulla Sharks. (AAP: Joel Carrett)
'It's come through hard work'
Harry will fulfill his boyhood dream at Sydney's Olympic Stadium on Sunday night — a dream shared by many kids kicking a football around in the backyard.
The 26-year-old said it would be a proud moment to lead the Melbourne Storm onto the field in the decider.
"I'm just excited and very privileged to be here and going to enjoy the opportunity," he said.
Harry meets fans at the Melbourne Storm's grand final open training session this week. (Supplied: Melbourne Storm)
"There's only two teams that get this opportunity every year."
Harry said the team had worked hard to get to the grand final.
"I don't think it's come through luck — it's come through hard work, plenty of effort and a lot of commitment and dedication, but we realise there's plenty of work to be done," he said.
Margie and Paul Grant snatch a few moments with son Harry after the Maroons beat the Blues. (Supplied: Margie Grant)
The Grant family will have tears in their eyes if their son and younger brother can lift the Provan-Summons Trophy.
But they'll be quick to keep the blonde-haired kid from Yeppoon grounded.
"He'll get a bit of support, but you never know, his brothers might come up with a silly sign in the crowd too," Paul Snr said.