State of Origin 2021: Cameron Smith’s shock pick to replace injured Harry Grant

With Harry Grant in grave danger of missing State of Origin I, Cameron Smith has called for a shock bolter to wear the No.9 jersey.

Eels hooker Reed Mahoney. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Maroons legend Cameron Smith has called for Parramatta dynamo Reed Mahoney to be handed Queensland’s No.9 jersey, with Storm star Harry Grant in grave danger of missing Origin I.

The Courier-Mail understands Grant is unlikely to overcome a hamstring injury and play an NRL match before Queensland coach Paul Green names his Game One team on May 31.

Grant is battling a hamstring injury and is only a slim chance of facing the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium next Thursday night — the final round before Green selects his side for the June 9 Origin series-opener at the MCG.

Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand with No Ad-Breaks During Play. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

There is every chance Grant could be fit for Game One, however he faces going into only his second Origin game with a limited preparation following an injury-plagued 2021.

Grant missed Melbourne’s first four games of the season with a knee injury and has only played five NRL matches — four off the bench — this year.

Harry Grant is battling a hamstring injury. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

After starring from the interchange in last year’s decider, Grant was expected to be promoted to Queensland’s starting hooker following the retirement of Jake Friend.

But his injury struggles are set to cost him Queensland’s No.9 jersey and Origin’s greatest-ever hooker says the duties should go to rising Eels rake Mahoney. Smith wore the No.9 jersey in every one of his record 42 Origin games and said Mahoney was built for the arena.

“I didn’t think he was far away last year,” Smith said on SEN Radio.

“He’s been playing some wonderful football for Parramatta over the last few years and is a big reason why they’ve been at the top of the ladder and able to play finals footy.

“He is a competitor, so much of a competitor he got me 10 in the sin bin. He hung on to my jersey in a semi-final and wouldn’t let go, I clipped him in the face and I got 10 in the bin.

Reed Mahoney is in the frame for a spot in the Maroons. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“The big question is ‘is Harry going to be fit?’ It’s not far away. There’s two more games before the first Origin teams are selected and we all know how delicate hamstrings are and the way team physios and doctors treat them.

“Will Harry get to play another game before Origin and will he be fit for that high-intensity arena?”

Grant proved to be the difference in last year’s decider, sparking the Maroons from the bench to help Queensland clinch a famous victory at Suncorp Stadium. Smith said a Mahoney-Grant alliance could be deadly and the Eels No. 9 was up to the task of handling the Origin arena.

“Harry played such a vital role off the bench in Game Three,” Smith said. “The game turned (when he came on) and you could see the momentum shift.

“He’s done a similar role for the Storm this year when Brandon Smith has started.

“Harry has only played five games and didn’t start the year because of a knee injury. He’s now off the park with a hamstring injury.

“Reed has played every game and is playing really well. The stats back-up his performances.

“You’d probably start with Reed. He is a tough little bugger. He doesn’t mind getting involved in tackles. He’s made 60-odd tackles plenty of times in his career.

Maroons legend Cameron Smith said Queensland could start with Reed Mahoney. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“He’s got great service from dummy-half, a pretty good running game and kicking game. He’s got all the threats. Then you bring Harry Grant on to the field just before halftime to use his silky skills and craft to tear apart the Blues.”

Green has been reluctant to discuss team selections but told The Courier-Mail recently that he had been impressed by Mahoney.

“Reed Mahoney has started the year really well,” he said. “There are a lot of options for us all over the field.”

Mahoney has averaged 42 tackles per game in Parramatta’s hot start to the season.

Smith said the pint-sized dummy-half dynamo would have to limit his work on league’s biggest stage.

“He is a competitor and wants to be involved in everything, but in that arena of Origin, if he goes out with that mentality, he will last 15 minutes and be gassed,” he said.

“That’s something that evolves in your game with maturity. You find little opportunities to have a rest. At the moment Reed is 100 miles an hour the whole time, but that’s what makes him the player he is.”

Originally published as State of Origin 2021: Cameron Smith’s shock pick to replace injured Harry Grant