Harry Grant is elusive: just ask opposition front rowers. The Melbourne and Queensland hooker has scurried, slipped and scooted out of dummy half more than any other player this season, and for linebreaks is in the NRL’s top 40 – an elite club largely filled with outside backs.
But those who regularly visit AAMI Park during the week, before and after training when the Storm captain is available for media, also understand how hard Grant is to pin down. The 26-year-old is generous with his time, and understands the need to promote the game, particularly in Melbourne.
When the topic inevitably gets to himself however, Grant’s evasion is impressive. He might crack a joke to distract or lighten the mood, or simply stare down a reporter. Asked to reflect on his 100-game milestone against the Roosters in the preliminary final this Friday, Grant was unequivocal. “I think there’s probably more at stake and something greater for the team to achieve.”
After the hooker’s hat-trick of tries saw off Cronulla two weeks ago, coach Craig Bellamy – quizzed on why he chose Grant to lead the side in 2024 – said it was his position as hooker that made him the logical choice. “He’s always on the ball, around the ball, so I think that gives players … a better indication on what’s going on in the game and what’s not going on.”
Bellamy wasn’t anticipating what else Grant would bring to the role. “I probably didn’t see it at that time, just his interest in doing things outside the footy, for the club, for the team, like family things, and social things,” he said.
In rugby league’s foreign land, aliens have relocated from homes in Queensland or New Zealand to a cold, windy, Aussie rules-loving metropolis. Tonga-born backrower Eli Katoa has emerged as one of the game’s most potent threats since arriving at the Storm last year, and said Grant has helped him find comfort. “You don’t get to see it much, what he’s done a lot for us off the field, bringing us all together,” he said. “The group is so tight at the moment, and a lot of it is because of Harry’s work.”
Prop Josh King – who is part of the club’s six-man leadership group – said Grant’s formula as captain is relationships, and estimates the hooker spends half of his day off on the phone talking with teammates. “He’s worked hard to bring us together as a group and really make us connect and go deeper than just playing footy on the weekend, learn a bit more about ourselves,” he said.
King is preparing for his own milestone of 150 games on Friday. He spent years as a fringe first grader at his hometown club of Newcastle, in a period which included two wooden spoons. The 28-year-old has emerged as an elite middle in Melbourne over the past three seasons. “Half the battle in professional sport is how you get each player up to play each week, and how you make people feel good,” he said. “That’s what Harry’s doing.”
Grant said his upbringing in central Queensland was diverse, and his school and parents encouraged an understanding of other ways of life. “I think that’s such an important thing for a footy team,” he said. “You’re able to learn and dive into other people’s backgrounds and cultures and where they’re from. We’ve got those guys – Tui [Kamikamica] from Fiji, Eli from Tonga, and the boys from Samoa [such as Young Tonumaipea and Sua Fa’alago] – and that’s important to them.”
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Grant’s personal approach has kept the minor premiers on the right track this season, according to Katoa. “He sort of knows, if you’re not up for it, if you’re lacking energy or anything, he’ll always check up on you every morning and make sure everyone’s alright. Those are the little things that he does for us, and we appreciate it.”
While his teammates will take Grant far, there are some challenges he must face alone. Growing up, Grant idolised Cameron Smith, Queensland’s greatest hooker who was Storm captain for 13 seasons. In terms of shoes to fill, there are perhaps none bigger.
Bellamy knows them both intimately. “They’re different, Cameron was always very well planned, controlled, where Harry, he just gets on the back of things, and off he goes,” he said. “Cameron was probably a little bit more skilful around dummy half, but Harry’s quicker.”
When asked about his coach’s assessment, Grant quickly makes light of the situation, again seeking to deflect. “It’s probably the only better attribute I’ve got on Smithy,” he said.
“Having Craig as someone that you can learn from, and lean on has been pivot-, pivotable.” The hooker paused, checked his pronunciation, and continued: “…pivotal to my career.”
Concluding his remarks, Grant thanked those in attendance, then walked out of the room, practising the word over which he had just stumbled: “pivotal”, “pivotal”, “pivotal”.
