NRL 2021: Harry Grant in doubt for Storm in Round 1 after knee injury

The man earmarked to replace Cameron Smith as the Storm No.9 faces scans on an injured knee on Monday and may not be available until round four.

The Storm have suffered a huge setback with Harry Grant in severe doubt for their Round 1 clash against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

The representative hooker limped off in the second half of his side’s trial win over Newcastle and will have scans on his left medial on Monday.

The initial prognosis was that it was nothing too serious, but Storm coach Craig Bellamy later confirmed that the man set to replace Cameron Smith in the famous No.9 jersey would be racing the clock to be fit for the March 11 clash.

“He’s done a medial. I doubt if he’s going to be ready for round one,” Bellamy said.

“It’s probably three or four weeks. We’ll see how he progresses the next 10 days.”

Grant was naturally feeling “a little bit down” in the sheds, with Bellamy revealing this was the latest in a string of setbacks following his stint with the Wests Tigers.

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Harry Grant injured in Storm vs Knights trial

“He hasn’t had a great pre-season for us,” he said.

“He’s had a few injuries through pre-season. He’s had a couple of things with his ribs and sternum, so he didn’t do a lot of contact. He also had a calf strain. Hopefully after this he’ll have a good run.”

Grant was forced off three minutes into the second half when his left leg was caught awkwardly while making a tackle, but was able to leave the field unassisted.

Grant also spotted in a knee brace post match. Usually only required when concern present for instability (grade 2-3). Signs getting worse for Grant, toughness on the field to walk off hiding a more significant injury

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) February 27, 2021

It’s a potentially cruel blow for a player who excelled at the Tigers as part of a historic loan deal last year, even helping Queensland stun the Blues with one of the all-time great State of Origin debuts.

He had been one of the best players on the field, with one play in particular just before halftime enough to suggest he can help Melbourne defend their title.

With one marker left on the ground, the crafty hooker looked left but scooted right before he grubbered on the run for Nelson Asofa-Solomona to score under the posts.

It was a move straight from the Smith playbook that will leave opposition coaches in cold sweats when they do their video reviews.

With Grant in doubt for Round 1, Brandon Smith will likely start the season at hooker. Picture: Getty Images.

With the Origin hooker off, New Zealand No.9 Brandon Smith shifted to dummy-half and had a try assist of his own when he sliced through to set up Felise Kaufusi. It’s the one-two punch around the ruck that doesn’t seem fair.

SuperCoach players would have been cheering in the first half when Ryan Papenhuyzen nailed a sideline conversion, although their fingernails were quickly shortened when he came off in the first half after colliding with Starford To’a.

Thankfully, he was laughing with the trainer a minute later and returned after the break where he continued to split the posts with ease.

In-demand halfback Jahrome Hughes looks to have taken his game to new heights, highlighted by a solo try close to the line that would have added another zero to his contract demands.

Perhaps the most eye-catching performance came from local product Dean Ieremia, with the teenager scoring the first try of the afternoon as he made the most of his opportunity on the right wing.

It remains unclear who will replace Suliasi Vunivalu, but it appears to be a race in three with Ieremia, Reimis Smith and Isaac Lumelume battling it out.

Newcastle fans shouldn’t panic – after all, it’s only a trial – but they will be sweating on Kalyn Ponga’s availability, with a shoulder injury set to keep him sidelined in the early rounds. Their attack looked clunky with him missing.

In positive news, Connor Watson looked lively in the middle of the field while new recruit Tyson Frizell showed glimpses of his best following a below par season with the Dragons.