Superstar Kangaroos winger Josh Addo-Carr has lit up the World Cup, and behind his drive for success is an ever bigger motivator - to make the world smile.
His extraordinary try in a memorable semi-final win over rivals New Zealand was one of the most thrilling moments in World Cup history.
It was also one of 12 tries so far for the tournament’s top scorer, and one more in Saturday’s final against Samoa would break the record.
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The 27-year old’s lust for life and insistence on only ever living in the current moment is infectious. His smile is wider than the gap he chased down to beat Jordan Rapana to Ben Hunt’s towering kick for that iconic Elland Road try.
When we met at Australia’s Manchester hotel this week it was predictably all smiles and giggles. Just hours before the biggest game of his life.
“It’s the ultimate goal,” says the man they call The Foxx.
“Putting a smile on everyone’s faces in the team and back home, that’s what it is all about.”
Indeed a daily check of the Canterbury Bulldogs winger’s instagram story is enough to put even the most negative mindset into a happy place.
“It’s been a wonderful tournament and I have loved every moment. All the locals have showed love. It’s pretty freaky being in another country and every second person asking for a photo.
“You work so hard for so many years so to get rewarded like this and have the potential to win a World Cup is pretty special. I’m loving every minute of it.”
You may have seen Santa and his elves floating around Manchester City centre on Thursday night. That was actually Addo-Carr and his team-mates enjoying the final moments of each others’ company before their tour heads home.
The chances of The Foxx scoring again under the Old Trafford lights is pretty high. His extraordinary pace makes him at times unplayable.
“My job is just to catch the ball and run fast!,” he says without a hint of understatement.
“When I was announced in the squad I didn’t even think I was going to play. I’m playing with the best players in the world so to now be in a World Cup final is pretty mind-blowing.
“Only the best get a chance to play in a World Cup final, so we will give it a red hot crack. We have one more job to do.”
The World Cup final will actually be the second visit to Old Trafford for Addo-Carr and his team-mates this trip. So don’t expect him to be overawed, but perhaps a little more enthused than his previous visit.
“We went to watch Manchester United versus Newcastle, which probably wasn’t the best game to go to. I got bored of watching a soccer game and couldn’t get my head around it so we left early.
“I didn’t know anything about Old Trafford until I got to England. Everyone speaks of the history, and Ronaldo plays there who is one of my favourite athletes in the world. Ever since growing up he was always the big dog running round here.”
Addo Carr is likely to have more career games to come at Old Trafford than his idol it seems, and has been creating a tournament highlights reel all on his own.
So is he able to talk us through that sensational moment that lit up the semi-final in Leeds?
“Benny Hunt put the kick up, he put it on a dime and I just chased for it. Jordan Rapana was a bit tired, got back late, I just put myself in a position to catch the ball and freaked myself out a bit.
“As I got near it I just thought I’m going to catch it. When you get nice and close and it starts coming down I knew in my head I was going to catch it. I couldn’t see anyone else, only the ball.”
Frighteningly for Samoa however, that wasn’t even Addo-Carr at full pelt.
“I probably wasn’t running as fast as I could have. I thought he would catch it. But then it didn’t feel like anyone was close to me.”
So one game to go, a World Cup final that home fans hoped would be against England but instead is against Samoa after their brilliant semi-final win over the hosts.
Defending champions Australia are once again huge favourites but Addo-Carr insists his side have taken note of what happened to England at The Emirates Stadium.
“Samoa are not underdogs,” he says with a shake of the head.
“Both teams have worked so hard to get into this position and they have world-class players in that Samoa side. The Samoan boys turned up against England so I don’t think there are any underdogs. From 1-13 they have fantastic players.
“They are a proud culture and proud of where they come from. It is great for the rugby league world.
“This now is the biggest, fastest players, in the hardest sport in the world. It doesn’t get any better than this.”
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