Harry Grant

[Russell]

Unfortunately Harry will only be with us for one year, there is a contract in place, get used to it. Enticing players to break contracts not our style, more a Parra thing, but both Melbourne and the NRL will make sure he's back in Storm colours.

Yes you're right, it's a sad thing, but we just have to make the best of it while we still have him with us. First goal is to make the finals with him here while somehow blooding another hooker to take his place next season. My money's on Simpkin, I don't think Liddle is much chop, tbh.

I don't think Liddle is much chop either.

I think he is a massive piece of RUMP STEAK!!!!

 

[avocadoontoast]

Unfortunately Harry will only be with us for one year, there is a contract in place, get used to it. Enticing players to break contracts not our style, more a Parra thing, but both Melbourne and the NRL will make sure he's back in Storm colours.

Yes you're right, it's a sad thing, but we just have to make the best of it while we still have him with us. First goal is to make the finals with him here while somehow blooding another hooker to take his place next season. My money's on Simpkin, I don't think Liddle is much chop, tbh.

I don't think Liddle is much chop either.

I think he is a massive piece of RUMP STEAK!!!!

This post belongs in “WTF After Dark”, the adults only version of Weststigersforum.

 

[facepalmer]

Liddle is a good player. He's always looked good when he's been fit. I am sure he will come good at least for some time.

 

[Gazza88]

So if we were able to make Harry an offer...what would that figure look like?
Surely Storm don’t want to have $2 millionish in cap dollars going on 3 hookers next year...
they have already cost Harry money by holding him back...

 

[jirskyr]

Any chance cronks comments are aimed at Brooks a bit?

Brooks has really not lived up to the hype despite time in grade around an average team.

Storm need a good half back.

If we were offered to give brooks and keep Grant next year, who here would take it?

That would be the best move Brooks could make been at the Tigers to long and is comfortable and settled and not lived up to the hype . You would see him blossom under Bellamy as he has plateaued at the Tigers !

The ‘hype’ he hasn’t lived up to was people literally saying he’s the next Andrew Johns. I don’t think there’s a player around that could live up to that hype.

Brooks would thrive at Melbourne though

to be fair who hasn't thrived after going to melbourne???

Junior Moops..

Brenko Lee
Scott Drinkwater
Albert Vete
Seve
Kasiano
Dean Britt
Matt White
Ryan Morgan
Richie Kennar
Hymel Hunt
Tom Learoyd
Blake Green
Joel Romelo
Kurt Mann
Georgie Rose
Ben Roberts
Dayne Weston
Ben Hampton
Junior Sa'u
Ryles
Lagi Setu
Siosaia Vave
Jack Afamasaga
Dane Chisholm
Mo Blair
Adam Woolnough
Atelea Vea
Beau Champion
Jaiman Lowe
Troy Thompson
Sione Kite
Justin O'Neill
Chaise Stanley
Matt Duffie
Rory Kostjasyn
Luke Kelly
Wairangi Koopu
Sinbad Kali
Dane Nielsen

I've written about this many times before, not knocking Bellamy or the Storm specifically, but this misguided and mistaken narrative that Storm turn all footballers into world-beaters. No, Storm are very very good at identifying top junior talent from Queensland and New Zealand, helping them develop very long careers and then supplementing those core rep-level footballers with workaholic bit-players who are given very specific jobs to do.

They go through the bit-players just as rapidly as anyone else does, and their list of first-grade players has very many single-digit game debutants, or players they bought from another club who ended up barely adding to their tally.

But it doesn't really matter if Wairangi Koopu or Beau Champion have negligible output if you can keep the core type Slater-Munster-Cronk-Smith (and variations of) in play.

 

[Geo]

Unfortunately Harry will only be with us for one year, there is a contract in place, get used to it. Enticing players to break contracts not our style, more a Parra thing, but both Melbourne and the NRL will make sure he's back in Storm colours.

Yes you're right, it's a sad thing, but we just have to make the best of it while we still have him with us. First goal is to make the finals with him here while somehow blooding another hooker to take his place next season. My money's on Simpkin, I don't think Liddle is much chop, tbh.

I don't think Liddle is much chop either.

I think he is a massive piece of RUMP STEAK!!!!

Damn was hoping for Scotch Fillet

 

[Shooter Mcgavin]

Cleary is the same age as Harry, he's already played 84 games

Would love to see Grant stay but seems too good to be true for our unlucky Tigers narrative. Reminds me of when everyone thought we had a fat chance at 2xCleary and nek minnit it all fell apart. If I am at the Tigers staff/players I would remind him of a few factors, just to plant the seed.

A) career longevity - players retire somewhere between 30-35 usually I imagine disregarding outliers and he is already 22 (same age as Ponga, Cleary and a year younger then Turbo). Those guys already playing origin, while racking up a couple years of footy now in top grade. If he returns to storm he should be prepared to fill the bench hooking role regardless of whether Cam plays on or not with Brando ahead in the pecking order as I don’t think Brando wants to be playing out of position or playing 20 off the bench his whole career.

B) financial limitations - he would be a marquee player of ours on big cash. Off the bat we could probably chuck 400-500k at him from McQueens contract alone, not including other spare cash (eg. Robbie ambassador money if that’s usable next year and maybe pay him more when packer goes etc). At Melb I am sure the funds would be tight but maybe they could get a good sum at the expense of their wingers and Cam if he goes.

C) opportunity to play 80 - even if he does get a gig at Melbourne starting or off the bench, his pathway does have a couple more obstacles then Jake/Jacob pose here at WT. Surely the kid just wants to play consistent footy.

D) style of play - he appears to be off the cuff and an eyes up player, it suits maybe tigers more then melb. They are renowned for structure and I’m sure he could adapt his game but it’s just a potential carrot to dangle that it would be his team essentially.

I would be wary of chucking a parra but at the same time I would hope the club can show him what we have got to offer for his own potential career progression. He doesn’t want to be waiting till Brando retires to get a decent starting gig at Melbourne at age 29 or so.

 

[bathursttiger1]

From NRL.com

Storm coach Craig Bellamy is not keen to pull out the crystal ball and predict what he'll do with Harry Grant if Cameron Smith decides to play on in 2021.

Bellamy has immense respect for Smith and will never interfere in any decision his long-serving Storm captain needs to make.

There has been a lot of talk around Grant's future since he's been such a revelation at the Wests Tigers in the swap deal with centre Paul Momirovski.

The 22-year-old rake has been dynamic setting up tries and line breaks in his six Telstra Premiership appearances for the Tigers since the competition resumed. And he's not just an attacking threat. His work ethic produces an average 48 tackles and 98 running metres per match.

He's risen to second place on the Dally M Leaderboard, just one point behind in-form Parramatta skipper Clint Gutherson.

Grant's efforts have not gone unnoticed by Bellamy but he's reluctant to debate his future with the Storm if Smith continues for a 20th season in the NRL.

"It's too early to make that call because there's a lot to unfold there," he told NRL.com.

"But with all due respect if Harry was at any other club he would have been playing first grade last year."

Bellamy also has a huge amount of time for Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire, since he spent six years as his assistant before moving to Wigan in Super League and then the Rabbitohs.

"There's an arrangement there – we were a bit short in outside backs so getting Paul was a good thing for us," Bellamy said.

"But it’s also good for Harry to play NRL. If he'd stayed with us he probably wouldn't have got that opportunity with the two Smiths [Cameron and Brandon] here.

"It's been great for the Tigers obviously and great for Harry so it's turned out pretty good for everyone.

"When he comes back to us he would have a year of first grade under his belt."


Momirovski had to wait his turn but has impressed Melbourne with his efforts out wide recently. His intention is to return to Maguire's squad even though he has been enjoying his time with the Storm.

Bellamy is unsure what he'd say if Grant told him that he wanted to stay with the Wests Tigers.

"I don't know exactly what will happen in that situation, we've got a fair bit on our minds at the moment with moving to the Sunshine Coast, relocating our operation and personnel," he said.

"The [swap] contract says that Paul goes back to the Tigers next year and Harry comes back to us. So I don't think there's a whole of manoeuvring there."

 

[BalmainJnr]

Doesn’t sound like Bellyache would stop Harry if he made the call to stay. Sounds like we have a good working relationship with the Storm through a couple of connections.

 

[TonyTiger]

Doesn’t sound like Bellyache would stop Harry if he made the call to stay. Sounds like we have a good working relationship with the Storm through a couple of connections.

Don’t believe it, Bellamy won’t let Harry get away without a fight, if Harry doesn’t stay with us then Jacob Liddle Is a good fallback, he’s lightning out is dummy half.
It’s obvious that Harry is special but the NRL is littered with rookies who don’t go on with it after a breakout first season in the top grade.
In any case I won’t lose any sleep, I think we are desperate to get some pace into the backline - with 1 minute left on the clock I want someone who can run the length of the field to steal a win.

 

[Needaname]

Personally I think it will be Simpkin who would be the only player we can entice Melbourne with.
If it was to be Grant that gets the big contract with us I think we would have to sacrifice Simpkin as collateral.
As mentioned by someone earlier, I think Harry suits us more than he does the storm. If you’ve watched Simpkin play albeit in the lower grades, you’ll find he doesn’t play as eyes up and as high tempo as Harry does. Is a lot more conservative and focuses on the long game. Although he may end up being the better player, he may suit Melbourne more than us.

 

[PabloX]

From https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/122059692/kiwis-star-brandon-smith-wants-to-be-a-hooker-despite-call-for-a-positional-switch

**Kiwis star Brandon Smith wants to 'be a hooker despite call for a positional switch**

The Melbourne Storm’s Kiwis star Brandon Smith has made it clear he wants to stay at hooker despite an Australian rugby great claiming he should shift permanently to loose forward.

New South Wales coach Brad Fittler made the suggestion, saying it would allow the Storm to bring back star on-loan hooker Harry Grant from Wests Tigers next season, and keep former Australian hooker Cameron Smith at scrumhalf.

Brandon Smith - who was at hooker for his 50th NRL game in Melbourne's 27-25 golden point win over the Roosters - has been Smith's understudy at hooker since 2017, but has also had plenty of game-time as a loose forward (lock) or as an interchange player.

It's long been assumed the 24-year-old Kiwi, would be the eventual heir apparent to Cameron Smith - the first NRL player to reach 400 games.

But, Grant has been so impressive during his season-long loan at the Tigers that he's been tipped for State of Origin honours with Queensland. The 22-year-old currently sits second on the NRL Dally M player of the year ladder.

Smith, however, is a standout international hooker, proving one of the Kiwis' best players since his 2018 test debut.

Given Grant's emergence, it's clear Storm coach Craig Bellamy has a selection poser on his hands for the 2021 season.

Fittler was asked by former Australia scrumhalf Peter Sterling on Channel Nine's NRL Sunday Footy Show if Brandon Smith could have "the impact he's having now'' from dummy half.


"He's played so much lock forward, it's given the coach a really good look to say, well we have Harry Grant sitting at the Tigers," Fittler said.

"You all of a sudden bring Harry Grant back and then Cameron Smith can play another year but at halfback.

"Then you have Jahrome Hughes and Ryley Jacks just sitting there. One of them will have to stand up."

Brandon Smith has spent so much time at lock, that he quipped to NRL TV he “had to remind myself that I was playing hooker'’ during the Roosters game. “Smithy [Cameron Smith] being Smithy, helped me out and jumped in there a couple of times when he knew I was having a lapse in concentration.'’

Brandon Smith, however, made it clear in his NRL TV interview that he sees his longterm future at hooker.

"I definitely want to be a nine,'' he said.

Smith ducked and weaved like any good dummy half when a NRL TV panellist asked if he would consider asking the Storm for a release so he could play hooker elsewhere if Grant was preferred in the No 9 jumper.

"Obviously, it's really tough for me to answer that at the moment,'' he said. "I'm just trying to focus on this year ... I don't want to step on anyone's toes.

"But, yeah, I definitely want to play No 9.''

Smith said he did not know how it would make him feel if the Storm favoured Grant at hooker.

"I will have to wait for that challenge. I don't know if Madge [Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire] will want to let Harry go with the form that he's in.''

Smith said the Storm's golden point win over the Roosters was "one of the toughest games'' of his career, saying he was glad the club gave the team three days off to recover.

"I don't remember the last game I played where I felt that bad afterwards.

"I found it really hard sleeping, I was waking up [in the middle of the night]. My ribs were sore.

"As far as games go, I think it's probably the most physical I've played, and the fact that it went for 85 minutes, which is another think I haven't really experienced.''

Smith, who grew up on Waiheke Island, said he felt honoured to play 50 games for "such an incredible club'' like the Storm.

He still treasures his first grade debut in 2017, alongside "people like Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk. "That's definitely stuck with me. It's hard for me to forget how lucky I was to lace up my boots alongside people with that amount of respect.'’

Playing 50 matches so soon was "a crazy feeling'' for a young Kiwi, who "didn't expect to even play one NRL game''.

Asked if he had Cameron Smith's 400 games as a target, Smith laughed and said: "I'd have to play 30 games for the next 13 seasons, which would make me about 38''.

He said Storm teammate and fellow Kiwi Jesse Bromwich was "prehistoric - he's been around so long, but he's only halfway there [to 400].''

 

[TheDaBoss]

Our hooker stocks atm this season

Grant, liddle, Simpkin, Walters


Looks decent to me

 

[Deleted member 3518]

Personally I think it will be Simpkin who would be the only player we can entice Melbourne with.
If it was to be Grant that gets the big contract with us I think we would have to sacrifice Simpkin as collateral.
As mentioned by someone earlier, I think Harry suits us more than he does the storm. If you’ve watched Simpkin play albeit in the lower grades, you’ll find he doesn’t play as eyes up and as high tempo as Harry does. Is a lot more conservative and focuses on the long game. Although he may end up being the better player, he may suit Melbourne more than us.

I think you’re right mate. If anything it actually , makes the timeline sit perfectly , as Simpkin is probably 1-2 years away , and Grant is ready to go now . Which is perfect for everyone as the storm look like having Cam go around another year or 2.
I have to say though , as great as Harry is , he doesn’t look damaging close to the line .(not bagging him , just pointing out a weakness . We all have them ) Which is the huge rap on Simpkins . And his short kicking game .
Also the interviews with Simpkins at the start of the year were about grabbing the tigers 9 specifically , and being a club legend.
Ambitious , sure , but they were specific about Madge the tigers and our 9. They weren’t just hyperbole about being the best NRL player they could be etc. It’s only words , but there has to a distinction, as good as Grant is .

 

[Tigerlily]


 

[Sabre]

Rumour on LU that the loan deal will be extended for another season.

 

[boonboon]

Another consideration is how long does Bellamy last at Storm - If Craig leaves at the end of next year then it is all up in the air at the Storm - No Smith, No bellamy and it will mean significant changes

 

[BZN]

I think everyone's needs to calm a little. I agree Harry is killing it at the moment but remember that Luke Brooks started his first grade career on fire also.........

Sorry ...Harry Grant and Luke Brooks are on completely different planetary orbits

Even the artist formerly known as Geo would agree

What's being missed he is Grant was allowed to develop his craft out of the spotlight by carving Up Queensland Cup for a few years learning off Cammy and Bellyache at the same time..

So when his time came at 22 he was ready for the NRL to hit the ground running ..he got there the old fashioned way..

A lot of Clubs don't have that luxury and throw kids in at 19/20 where they have to learn in the NRL because there isn't another option..it's a tough ask..

To me @Geo....Grant seems to be a J Thurston type person in that he is a real fighter and very strong willed.... as you would have to be to fight off golden staph at such a young age, knows what he wants out of life, where he wants to be, is prepared to work hard for the team he is at, have a strong loyalty to his team, wont kowtow to the big end of town or kiss anyone's butt that may be standing in his way.
I also don't believe he is the sort of person that needs the easy way out in life or others to make him look good (ref. the Cronkster)....therefore I feel if the pennies drop in the right order re Cameron Smith's future, he would like nothing better than to stay at our club and grow as a person while doing his bit to help build a struggling club to be healthy and strong, as he did for himself as a child.

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

They go through the bit-players just as rapidly as anyone else does

Storm explanation Post of the Year. So true. Well done.

 

[jrtiger]

Rumour on LU that the loan deal will be extended for another season.

I think that would almost deliver Grant to WT permanently. Bellamy looking to finish up at the end of 2021, would've established some great relationships within our squad and I think we'll be a genuine premiership force by 2022. we might just have him here if it's true.