NRL grand final countdown show — Penrith Panthers, Melbourne Storm latest

While Penrith and Melbourne are focused on the NRL grand final, the Gold Coast Titans are looming, keen to continue their impressive recruiting spree by targeting a Storm hooker.

Could the Gold Coast Titans be ready to spoil the Melbourne Storm’s NRL grand final party?

While minor premiers Penrith tackle Melbourne in the 2020 decider, the Titans are focused on strengthening their roster even more for next season.

In The Daily Telegraph grand final countdown show, Sports Editor-at-large Phil Rothfield reveals the Titans have around $700,000 in salary cap space to add a quality hooker to what is already shaping as a roster capable of challenging for the top eight.

The Storm still have Cameron Smith, Brandon Smith and Harry Grant contracted for this season and, although Smith hasn’t yet announced his future, Rothfield believes the Titans are watching on with interest.

Scroll to the 18min 30sec mark in the video to watch the panel discuss Smith’s future

Harry Grant, Cameron Smith and Brandon Smith.

“I’ve done a little bit of homework on the Titans and what I have found out overnight is that they are looking for a No.9,” Rothfield told Fox Sports News.

“They’ve got Bryce Cartwright’s contract money and alittle bit more, probably around $700,000 to spend.

“And I can tell you that they have approached the Melbourne Storm about Brandon Smith and Harry Grant. But they’re both going to be at the Storm because (Sunday’s grand final) is going to be Cameron’s last game in a Storm jersey.

“If they’ve got that money available, if he’s living on the Gold Coast, which I think he will be — he’s bought the house, nice new car, family, kids and schools — there’s $700k there and he’s playing so well.”

Rothfield also suggested the Titans could have a trump card in their head of performance and culure.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy chats with his current hooker, Cameron Smith, and his future No.9, Harry Grant, after a game against the Tigers. Picture: Nathan Hopkins/NRL Photos

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“There’s a guy called Mal Meninga, who was so tight with him for Queensland and Australia, don’t tell me they’re not going to have a discussion.”

Rothfield, fellow Telegraph reporter James Phelps and The Courier-Mail’s Travis Meyn join Jim Callinan on Fox Sports News to dissect all the latest news from the Panthers and Storm camps.

They cross live to Penrith legend Royce Simmons at the Panthers' grand final luncheon, zero in on Penrith's chief sledger, Jarome Luai, plus revisit the epic 2015 grand final.