Storm’s extra nines might not be fine
STORM joint vice-captain Dale Finucane has cast some doubt over the “long term” future of emerging hookers Brandon Smith and Harry Grant at Melbourne.
With Grant and Smith vying for Cameron Smith‘s position, should he vacate the hooker role this year, Storm have their work cut out to retain two of the NRL’s most exciting talents.
Loaned Wests Tigers rake Grant, who along with captain Smith remains at the top of the Dally M rankings, will return to Melbourne at season’s with a view to start in the No.9 jersey next year.
Kiwi international and Storm spirit animal Smith is just as damaging in the specialty position.
NSW Origin and premiership star Finucane, widely touted as a future Storm captain, along with vice-captain and prop Jesse Bromwich, said it could be hard to keep both Grant and Smith.
“It’s not something that has been spoken about at all … with our playing group or the coaches that I’m aware of,” Finucane said of the potential 2021 issue.
“Obviously we’d love to have all of them play at the club but there’s only one hooker role and I’m not even 100 per cent sure what Brandon’s preferred position is.
“Whether he does want to play as a starter in the middle or whether he wants to play nine (hooker), I’d love to have everyone here but that probably wouldn’t be the case long term.”
Storm loaned Grant to the Tigers to get game-time into the Rockhampton junior but also to avoid the SmithSmith-Grant conundrum.
The 22-year-old Grant has made the most of the exchange, winning over fans league-wide with dazzling runs and silken passes.
“Being behind Cameron … it’s a big ask to fill those shoes,” Finucane said.
“To go away to the Tigers, and I think he was leading the Dally M when it went behind closed doors, it just goes to show the calibre of player he is and how competitive he is away from the Storm.”
Privately, Storm have modelled a structure to squeeze all three in the starting side, with Grant at hooker, Smith going to lock, Finucane in the front row and the captain at halfback.
“That could be done as well,” Finucane said, of a potential move to the front-row.
“There’s not too much difference between front row and lock in terms of the role, particularly in our team, beside the position that we stand in at the kick-off.
“It wouldn’t bother me too much about where I played in the middle.”
Finucane has had a cortisone shot since the Broncos bashing last Friday night after a scan confirmed a hot spot in his neck.
The 28-year-old Finucane has played with the neck complaint since the competition restart.
“It’s just something that lingered around,” he said.
I just had a look at some scans and had a quick cortisone jab because we had a longer (nine-day) turnaround so it was a good opportunity to do that this week.”