Harry Grant shakes off virus for Maroons as Bears stalk Storm star

Harry Grant has been given the green light by the Maroons medical team after overcoming a virus, as the Storm go on red alert to prevent the star hooker being poached by the Bears.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 18: Harry Grant of the Maroons runs the ball during game two of the Men's State of Origin series between Queensland Maroons and New South Wales Blues at Optus Stadium on June 18, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Harry Grant has opened talks on a multimillion-dollar contract extension with the Storm as the Queensland hooker was cleared of illness to take his place in the Origin decider this Wednesday night.

Grant entered Camp Maroon battling a virus but has received the green light from medicos in a major boost to Queensland’s hopes of a history-making series defeat of the Blues at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.

This masthead can also reveal the Storm have kicked-off negotiations in the lead-up to Origin III on a deal set to be worth north of $2.5 million to stave off poaching threats for Grant from expansion clubs Perth and PNG.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 18: Harry Grant of the Maroons runs the ball during game two of the Men's State of Origin series between Queensland Maroons and New South Wales Blues at Optus Stadium on June 18, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Grant reinforced his status as one of the code’s premier hookers with the greatest performance of his Origin career in Queensland’s series saving 26-24 defeat of the Blues in Perth a fortnight ago.

The Storm skipper hit back at critics of his winless 0-4 record as a starting Origin hooker with a sublime display around the rucks to pilot the Maroons to a Sydney decider.

Grant broke his Origin starting duck in Perth - and now he wants to break NSW’s hearts as the wily hooker looks to secure the Queensland No. 9 jumper for the long haul.

“There is an individual motivation and a collective motivation,” said Grant, who was panned for his below-par display in Queensland’s 18-6 loss in Game One.

I WANT THE NUMBER 9 JERSEY

“I understood a little bit from Game One and what that looked like for me.

“I just had to knuckle down and make sure I was doing my role well.

“It felt like that was there in Game Two but the challenge for me is doing that again.”

The 27-year-old has largely been deployed by Queensland as a supersub in the No. 14 utility role, but Grant genuinely believes he can have a greater impact as a starting rake.

“You want to be there (in the Queensland No. 9 jumper) but you have also got to perform,” he said.

“I understand that.

“I think my biggest trait is effort.

“As long as I am giving effort every week and not leaving anything in the tank in that regard I know I can come away and work on execution and decision-making.

“As soon as I stop giving effort that’s when I’ll be into myself.

“I think everyone tapped into that (effort) in Game Two.

“It’s important that we build on that performance, know what we did well, and try and iron out a good performance for Wednesday night.”

Former Queensland coach Mal Meninga will be watching the Origin decider closely.

Now the new Perth Bears coach, Meninga needs to sign 30 players and as his former Australia mentor, he is acutely aware of the class of Grant, who is off-contract with the Storm at the end of next year.

Harry Grant is keen to stay at the Storm. Picture: Getty Images

‘I MIGHT GO ON LOAN TO THE TIGERS AGAIN’

That makes Grant a free agent from November 1, when Meninga can begin approaching players, and the Bears or PNG would relish having the Kangaroos hooker as a foundation signing.

But the Storm are adamant Grant is going nowhere. The Storm skipper is on around $850,000 this season, meaning a new three or four-year extension would be worth in the vicinity of $2.7-$3.6 million.

Grant is mindful the expansion clubs can drive up his asking price but the Rockhampton product, who was briefly loaned to the Wests Tigers in 2020, has no plans to leave Melbourne.

“I played at the Tigers so the Tigers might be calling me up,” Grant said with a wry grin.

“I might go on loan to the Tigers again.

“I haven’t had those conversations too much yet. It (State of Origin) is a period we have got to navigate.

“I wanted to get through the chunk of the season. We have good owners down there (at Melbourne), a good board, CEO and recruitment team that I have a good relationship with.

“They are pretty comfortable with the conversations when they take place.

“The Storm are such a good club with so many good people in it that it’s a good environment to be in.

“The longer you are in those environments the happier you are and the better footy you play.”

Grant is an Origin decider danger man. He helped Queensland win the 2020 decider with a try on debut at Suncorp Stadium and is aware the Maroons have never won back-to-back games on the road, after being 1-0 down, to win the title in 45 years of Origin.

“With deciders you put yourself where you want to be,” he said.

“I’d rather go into a decider than going into Game Three with the series already wrapped up.

“I know we have the team to do it. It is more about focusing on what you need to do for the team in the game and hopefully the result takes care of itself.”

Originally published as Harry Grant shakes off virus for Maroons as Bears stalk Storm star