Paul Momirovski-Harry Grant trade likely to end up in NRL’s ‘too hard basket’
The Wests Tigers’ chances of landing Cameron Smith’s understudy at the Storm in exchange for Paul Momirovski are still up in the air, .
NRL
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The potentially historic NRL player swap deal between Wests Tigers and Melbourne is now just days away from being discarded into the NRL’s ever-growing ‘too hard basket’.
Although the Tigers are still clinging to some hope that they can get exciting young Melbourne hooker Harry Grant to the club this year, it has just about reached the critical stage.
It is understood if they can’t get a resolution from the NRL by this weekend then the Tigers will reluctantly have to make a decision to call the deal off.
In what is now becoming a genuine welfare issue for several players, Grant and Tigers’ centre Paul Momirovski’s futures are still up in the air as they await to see if this transfer deal with the Storm will get the green light from the governing body.
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While both clubs are keen to make the swap for one year because it would suit their rosters and the players involved, apparently it is being held up because of a salary cap related issue the NRL has with the Storm.
As a result Momirovski has said his goodbyes to the Tigers on several occasions in recent weeks only for the deal to fall through at the last minute.
Understandably the situation is taking a toll on him and he just wants to know where he stands.
It would be a similar situation for young Grant in Melbourne who is keen to come to Sydney so he can step out of Cameron Smith’s shadow for this season before eventually returning to take over hooking duties at the Storm.
And it is not just these two who have been caught up in the on again, off again transaction.
Moses Mbye is another player who has been severely inconvenienced.
Mbye has spent the preseason training to play dummy half but if the deal goes ahead he most likely will find himself in the centres.
With the NRL season kick off now a month away, it is a significant issue that needs to be sorted.
At this stage the Tigers are training as if Mbye will be playing hooker while Momirovski, if he stays, will likely get first crack in the centres ahead of young gun Tommy Talau and Robert Jennings.
In the forwards the mail is Russell Packer is the fittest he has been for some time but will still struggle to get the jump ahead of his younger rivals.
Young Thomas Mikaele continues to go ahead in leaps and bounds and is leading the charge for one starting prop position with the likes of Alex Twal, Zane Musgrove, Josh Aloiai and Oliver Clark all in the mix.
SUPERCOACH ANALYSIS (by Wilson Smith and Rob Sutherland)
PAUL MOMIROVSKI, CTW TIGERS/STORM $561,800
Momirovski was impressive in limited games for the Tigers last year, with 11 games at an average of 60.5. But this is deceptively low, since he took over the goal kicking and scored over 60 in six of these games, including a 101 and 145! Unfortunately this means he is overpriced to start the year and should be avoided, regardless of if the loan deal happens or not.
HARRY GRANT, HOK STORM/TIGERS $194,900
If the Wests Tigers are able to borrow Harry Grant from the Storm then he has the potential to be a star. In 22 games in the QRL Cup last year Grant (playing the full 80 minutes in 20) he scored 14 tries, assisted 21 more, made 18 linebreaks, busted 61 tackles and threw 20 offloads – all while averaging close to 40 tackles and 100 metres per game. No wonder the livewire hooker is being compared to Damien Cook! If the switch doesn’t eventuate, Grant will be a player to avoid for now, but still one to keep an eye on.
MOSES MBYE, CTW/FLB TIGERS $377,200
If the trade does not go ahead, we will likely see Mbye start the season at hooker, which would see an increase to his base stats and potentially his attacking output, although his minutes would also drop off. But being able to stuff a hooker into your CTW slot could be handy, as it would mean you have a reliable option at a position usually lacking consistent base stats.
TOMMY TALAU, CTW TIGERS $208,200
One of the few potential cheapie options this season, Talau’s starting chances hinge entirely on whether this deal goes through or not. While Momirovski is at the club, there is seemingly no place for Talau in the starting side, ruining his cheapie prospects for now. He would still likely be the next man up in the case of injury, but would just be a player to watch.
ADAM DOUEIHI, CTW/FLB TIGERS $343,100
With the move from Souths to the Tigers, Doueihi seems to have locked down the fullback position at the club, forcing Corey Thompson to a wing. His 2019 average was nothing to boast about, but he is also a chance to pick up the goal kicking duties at the club, which would mean he is underpriced and good value.