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Cooper Cronk says Wests Tigers rookie revelation Harry Grant should choose his next career move wisely, warning it could be make or break. FIND OUT WHY.
Fatima Kdouh, The Daily Telegraph
Fatima Kdouh, The Daily Telegraph
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 caps for the Kangaroos 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.