Melbourne Storm thrilled to see loaned Wests Tigers hooker Harry Grant take NRL by storm
Loaned Wests Tigers hooker Harry Grant will be in the Melbourne Storm purple next year as the annual speculation about superstar Cameron Smith’s future simmers away.
Tigers
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tigers. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Loaned Wests Tigers hooker Harry Grant will be in the Melbourne Storm purple next year.
Storm could not be any more definitive the emerging hooker, second in the Dally M by one vote after five rounds, would return to Melbourne at season’s end.
Grant, 22, has three years left to run on a contract with Melbourne that includes an opt-out should skipper Cameron Smith play on.
But the clause has no deadline and Storm — with the rights to both Grant and Brandon Smith — isn’t obligated to act for the sake of rivals’ salary-cap decisions.
Football director Frank Ponissi laughed off the latest round of speculation around Smith’s future.
“It’s funny, one minute they’re trying to retire Cameron every year, but now suddenly he’s playing next year,” Ponissi said.
Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership. Every game of every round Live & On-Demand with no-ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
“Cameron hasn’t indicated either way … probably the Harry situation has brought the discussion on more than it would at this stage of the season, being only June.”
Storm brokered the landmark swap arrangement with Wests so Grant could play NRL in 2020.
With Smith and New Zealand hooker Brandon Smith in Craig Bellamy’s top 17, the Rockhampton export would be starved of playing time.
Should record-collector Smith play on, Storm cannot rule out an overhaul of the line-up to make room for the “very different” rakes. Grant could play hooker and Smith move into the halves.
MORE NRL
Wayne Bennett unloads on Brisbane Broncos, Anthony Seibold as war of words erupts
Ricky Stuart slams player managers; John Bateman to quit Canberra Raiders at end of 2020
State of Origin 2020: Auckland emerges as potential Game I host
Grant has captured the imagination of the competition in five games under Tigers head coach — and former Storm assistant — Michael Maguire.
Grant scored the Tigers’ first try last week and assisted in another during a 34-6 win.
“We’re really proud of what he’s doing at the Tigers,” Ponissi said. “I think he’s in for a great season.
“He’s a Tiger this year and next year he puts on a purple jersey.”
CHOOSE GREATNESS: CRONK’S GRANT CALL ROCKS TIGERS
– Fatima Kdouh
Cooper Cronk has warned Wests Tigers rookie revelation Harry Grant that his next career move could be the difference between him becoming an NRL great or a 100-game player.
The four-time premiership winner is adamant if he hadn’t landed at a club like the Melbourne Storm, he would not have been able to build a stellar 375-game NRL career.
And that spells bad news for the Tigers, who haven’t played finals football in almost a decade.
Just five games into his rookie season, Grant’s ascension has been stunning — the hooker is outright second on the Dally M leaderboard behind North Queensland’s Jason Taumalolo after seven rounds.
Grant is on loan at Wests from Melbourne, where uncertainty remains over the future of legendary hooker Cameron Smith and whether he’ll play on again in 2021.
According to Fox League expert commentator Cronk, if Grant is to fully reach his enormous potential, he should consider returning to the Storm even if Smith extends his record-breaking career.
“I’m happy to say on record that if I went to some other clubs I would have been a 100 or 150-gamer at best,” said Cronk, whose decorated career included four premierships with the Storm and Sydney Roosters, 38 international caps and 22 Origin appearances for Queensland.
“But because I landed at [some good clubs] particularly Melbourne Storm at first … the work ethic and the resources they gave me, I was able to achieve things I never thought were possible.
“For Harry Grant, if the situation comes up, find the club that you think is going to make you become a better person and footy player.”
Grant landed at the Tigers from Melbourne this season courtesy of a swap deal with outside back Paul Momirovski. He is contracted with the Storm until the end of 2022 and is seen as Smith’s successor, but it’s believed he can activate a get-out clause if the veteran hooker doesn’t hang up his boots.
“Frank Ponissi, the Melbourne Storm’s football director, has been quoted saying even if Cameron Smith goes around, Harry Grant will be coming back to the Storm. That’s a smart move on the Storm’s behalf,” Cronk said.
“What would my advice be to Harry Grant? He seems pretty comfortable at the Wests Tigers, he’s contributed to that team and have won a few games.
“But my advice to any young kid is, go to a club that is going to make you better than you think you can be.
“Through my career, the example that I have been a part of is good coaches, good clubs, good players can make you achieve greater things than you thought possible.”
Weighing heavily against the Tigers is the fact they haven’t played finals football since 2011. While in that time the Storm have won two premierships and three minor premierships, having not missed September football since 2010 when they played for no competition points as part of a salary cap penalty.
Grant has been a standout in the No. 9 jumper for Michael Maguire’s side. He trails Dally M leader Taumalolo (11 points) by just one point after playing just five games.
The 22-year old’s impressive performances have left Tigers fans hoping that Melbourne skipper Smith plays on beyond this season and urging their club to do whatever it takes to retain him.
But even if Smith plays on, history may be against them.