John Grant in action for Souths Magpies against Brothers
John Grant, the Inaugural Chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission, will deliver the annual Ross Livermore Memorial Lecture on Saturday, May 4, in Brisbane.
Grant, who played seven games for Queensland, and three Tests for Australia at the 1972 World Cup in France, will cover a number of aspects of the code, from the International scene, to Brisbane club football in the 1970s, to the NRL and to the political and financial aspects of administration.
A stalwart of Brisbane’s Souths’ Magpies club, he was named in the Magpies’ Team of the Century and is a Member of the Club’s Hall of Fame. Grant also played a season with English club, Warrington, a reward for being named Channel 7’s Player of the Year.
After touring New Zealand with the Queensland side in 1972, and playing in the Inter-State series, Grant was chosen for Australia’s World Cup tour to France and England, at the end of the season, with fellow Queenslander and another Souths’ Magpie, Harry Bath the coach. John played in the momentous World Cup final against Great Britain in the French city of Lyon. The match finished 10-all after 20 minutes extra time, with Britain awarded the trophy because they had been undefeated in the preliminary games, including a 27-21 win over Australia in the first round, a match in which Grant did not play.
At the completion of the tournament, Grant played for Australia in club games in England, against St Helens, Wigan and Bradford Northern, before taking up the contract with Wilderspool based Cheshire club, Warrington. On his return to Brisbane he played another six seasons with Souths, the club he had joined as an 18-year-old in 1968.
A graduate of Yeronga State High, Grant, who played Australian rules before switching to league, has forged a long, successful business career, highlighted by his innovative entry into the IT world through Data#3 Limited, where he was Managing Director. Today, he has roles as Non-Executive Chairman of three companies – ASX Listed networking FirstWave Cloud Technology Limited, UniQuest Pty Ltd, the commercialisation company of the University of Queensland, and Concept Environmental Services, one of the world’s leading fluid management companies.
The Australian Rugby League Commission succeeded the old partnership between News Limited and the Australian Rugby League, and was finally given the green light on February 10, 2012, with Grant the Chairman. He remained in the post until February, 2018, when he handed over the reins to fellow Queenslander, Peter Beattie. Grant was also International Federation Chairman from 2016 until November 2018, and remains a passionate advocate of the International Game.
In 1974 he played for Queensland against the touring Great Britain side, with Britain defeating Queensland 13-12, the difference a field goal by brilliant Salford halfback, Steve Nash. Grant and future Test forward, Greg Platz were Queensland’s reserves, in a squad of 15, coached by Barry Muir. No doubt the result brought back bad memories for Grant, from the 1972 World Cup campaign.
John attended the April 18 meeting of the Queensland Rugby League History Committee, when plans were being drawn up for this year’s event. Last year’s Lecture was delivered by former Test centre, Tony Currie, who became the first Indigenous guest speaker. In 2022, former Jillaroo, Jo Barrett became the first woman to deliver the Lecture. Currie and Barrett followed in the footsteps of fellow League players and coaches, Wally Lewis, Wayne Bennett, Michael Hagan and John Lang, as well as former referee, Geoff Mines and noted authors/historians, Adrian McGregor, Hugh Lunn and the late Professor Max Howell, a former Wallaby.
The Lecture is conducted by the Queensland Rugby League History Committee, under the auspices of the QRL. The committee is made up of volunteers who give their time to help keep alive the heritage of the code. Former sports journalist, Steve Ricketts is Chair and delivered the 2011 Lecture. Other committee members to deliver the lecture have been Greg Shannon, John McCoy, and Steve Haddan.
The Lecture will be held at the Queensland Rugby League offices, 83 Castlemaine Street, Brisbane on Saturday, May 4, at 10 a.m., with the function to finish at Noon. Morning tea will be provided. The Lecture will be live-streamed by the QRL digital arm. Steve Haddan will MC the event.
People intending to attend should register via telephone (07 3367 6000) or email qrlreception@qrl.com.au to assist with catering.
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