Grant set to star in Anzac Day showdown

MELBOURNE Storm hooker Harry Grant says he wants to start on the field on Anzac Day, declaring himself ready to play a full 80 minutes for the first time this season.

Storm has been cautious with last year’s Dally M Hooker of the Year, playing the Queenslander off the bench in his first two games after overcoming a knee injury.

He starred in Storm’s 20-4 win over the Sydney Roosters last Friday, scoring a try and notching up a try assist to push his case to snatch the No.9 jersey from Brandon Smith.

Although, the 23-year-old has again been selected to come off the bench against the Warriors with Smith again named to start at hooker.

His combination with the Kiwi international worked well against the Roosters, with the pair terrorising the tricolours out of dummy-half.

“I’d love to start and to be a part of the game from the start and to look at playing the whole 80 minutes,” Grant said.

“But that’s up to the coaches and whatever is best for the team. If Brandon and I can have that one-two punch combo it’s going to be benefit the team.

“We probably complement each other pretty well and I guess when we’re on the field at the same time he’s awesome to me.”

Grant said he was still blowing out the cobwebs in the first half last Friday before finding his touch after the break to steer Melbourne to victory.

“I felt really scrappy in that first half and I came in at halftime pretty disappointed with that performance,” he said.

“But I just thought about a few little things to focus on in the second half and the boys made my job a lot easier and everyone got on the back of each other.

Grant has still played just four Storm games after being on loan to the Wests Tigers last year. He will on Sunday play his first Anzac Day game at AAMI Park, which has grown into Storm’s biggest home game of the year.