Storm hooker Harry Grant has spoken publicly for the first time about the failed historic player swap that would've sent him to the Wests Tigers for Paul Momirovski.
Grant and Momirovski had both toured the other club's facilities, met with coaches Craig Bellamy and Michael Maguire and packed their bags.
But the NRL blocked the trade due to a salary cap despite that would've put the Storm $15,000 over their books.
Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, Grant said it had been a difficult period for him.
“It’s obviously been tough mentally - my arse is at training but my head is at Concord.
“I’ve had about six or seven going away parties. The hardest thing mentally is that for four weeks I’m thinking I’m playing NRL in a Tigers jersey and it was very exciting.
“It’s obviously hard when you look at the player welfare side of things. You rock up to training every day and give your best but there’s still that little thought in the back of your mind whether you’ll be there the next day or not.”
While Momirovski is guaranteed a starting spot at the Tigers, Grant is not afforded that luxury at Melbourne, meaning the blocked swap is a bigger blow to him than anyone.
The 21-year old is hopeful that the NRL will change the rules moving forward to give emerging players more opportunities to play first grade.
“I hope somehow they can look back over the decision,” Grant told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
“This should be something that we can do. It’s not like we’re both marquee players … me and Paul are just a couple of minimum-wage players looking for an opportunity to develop as footballers. Both clubs would benefit.
“I reckon going forward there might be some rules they might change or put in place.
“If you’re swapping players on a similar amount of money, it gives more opportunity. I don’t think one club is benefiting more than the other, everyone is on par.
“It’s not a way to try to rort the salary cap and get a win, it’s two clubs trying to develop players and fill holes in their roster."
Grant remains hopeful of securing a release from the Storm in search of more first-grade opportunities, with the Tigers still shaping as a potential landing spot.
“For my development, I believe the next step for me is to play NRL and unfortunately I won’t get too many games at Melbourne,” Grant said.
“I’m hoping for [a release]. As selfless as it would be for the club, long-term it would benefit the club.
“I’m open to it, the Tigers are open to it but whether the Storm is, I’d have to sit down and have a chat with [coach] Craig Bellamy and [CEO] Dave [Donaghy]. I don’t know how it works, if I go now they might have to sign a new player and be in the same boat (with the salary cap).
“What I need now development-wise is to play footy at a higher level at NRL. I might have to chase that elsewhere and the Tigers is a good opportunity for both parties."
As I said in a previous post here, NRL is the most useless and corrupt organisation in Australia. It needs a clean-up starting from the top.
He’s not as good as the kid they have there now in Jake Simpkin who he is 4 years younger! Not a fan of Grant, I think he is overrated. Cronin was a better player than him over the last 2 years in the Qld Cup. He just got the points because he had a great forward pack. Maybe there’s a reason Storm want to get rid of him….like Croft!!!???
Having said that, I think the player swap idea is a good one but the Storm are very close to the wind with their salary cap.
Your crazy if you think this guy is overrated.
1st of all this is a loan deal which means Storm want to keep him they just want him to get nrl game time.
2nd Simpkin is nowhere near the level Grant is at this stage of there careers. Yes Simpkin is a bright talent but has shown nowhere near the level of play Grant has.
3rd Cronin while a great player in his own right and does deserve a top 30 spot somewhere in the nrl, at the end of the day stats don’t lie and grants stats completely dominate Cronins. On top of that Cronin has the better forward pack and better spine even though Sunshine Coast were close to the same level. I think it’s mad that teams like cowboys and titans who have had overpaid disappointments in hooker for the past 2 years didn’t sign either of these guys when they had the chance is a massive blunder.
Not a big fan of the NRL hierarchy. They help certain teams along to a better season each year. Depending on how the wind blows. Not every team is included in that receiving of help of course.
However, you can’t just let the player swap happen ,if it means Melbourne were pushed over the cap . Haven’t we already been there?
The NRL administration is the best example you will ever see of a set of Ludites in the 21st century. They do not have any idea of change / development or expansion. They focus on doing the same as they have always done and see even the slightest tweeks in the game rules as some sort of major achievement.
These sorts of loan deals are common place in the ESL and yet they don’t seem to run into these sorts of issues. They work to great effect and help develop emerging players, giving them valuable experience whilst still staying on the books of their home club.
Surely 16k is not beyond the wit of these clubs / NRL to sort out.
What I don’t understand is if the Tigers are really up for Grant to play for them, surely all they have to do is pay $15,000 of Momirovski’s contact and all should be sweet. They apparently have quite a bit of the cap up their sleeve.
Is there any reason why this can not happen?
Seriously ZT?
Yet another blocked post for absolutely no reason.
You claim you want feedback. Well I gave you that on numerous occasions (through the appropriate channel) politely and constructively with zero response, and no change, so as per my last one. See ya.
I’m out, for a while at least, but to those that make regular constructive comments on here, thank you and good luck to you to all, and your teams (except those Manly supporters of course – kidding).
tragiceel – you make too much sense. Anything can happen in the game, because its not the Commission’s idea it is no good.
tragic
I believe it is to do with wages already paid to Harry this year. It breaks some rule of the Salary Cap and causes the storm to be 16k over however because its already paid, it can’t now be covered by the Tigers (apparently). If they had the will, they would find a way but they don’t have the will.
I have spoken about the NRL being a kind of “heads in the sand” type organisation. With this sort of intransigence, I am surprised that groups crying out for Expansion and being told no (Perth has had the carrot dangling in front of its nose for the last 20 years) don’t do a Superleague style break away. The frustration must be reaching breaking point.
Grant wouldn’t get a starting spot at Tigers now anyway with Reynolds allowed to play, he’ll be there number one hooker and Simpkin as backup. Grant should try his luck at Titans or Warriors.