Latest Rugby League News

Hooker Harry Grant sidelined, concern for outside backs following Tigers win

The Storm have provided an injury update on a number of casualties from Saturday night’s match.

Published by
Mitch Keating

Melbourne Storm hooker Harry Grant is set to miss the 2-3 weeks with his ongoing hamstring injury after missing selection for Origin II.

Grant was set to line up for his third appearance in the Maroon on Sunday in hope of aiding Queensland to level the series 1-1 at Suncorp Stadium.

After suffering further setbacks to a niggling hamstring complaint during the Storm's emphatic victory over the Tigers on Saturday night, the club have revealed their gun dummy-half is set to miss multiple weeks with the setback.

Speaking via the club's website, Melbourne's football operations coordinator Ryan Hoffman revealed the extent of Grant's injury.

"It's a low grade injury for Harry," Hoffman said. "We expect he will be out for 2-3 weeks."

Grant wasn't the only casualty out of Saturday night's 66-16 victory, with Reimis Smith (ankle), Brandon Smith (calf) and Tom Eisenhuth (elbow) all suffering injuries of their own.

Hoffman revealed that Reimis Smith will be required to prove his fitness over the Origin break ahead of the Storm's Round 16 clash with the Sydney Roosters next Thursday.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 04: Reimis Smith trains during a Melbourne Storm NRL training session at Gosch's Paddock on January 04, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Eisenhuth's nasty injury raised immediate concern from Hoffman and the club, but it has been revealed that the second-rower won't require surgery on his dislocated elbow.

"You could see he was in a fair bit of pain, the poor guy," Hoffman said.

"He was alright once they put the elbow back in and he doesn't require surgery.

"He is getting some more scans to determine his time out."

Brandon Smith was limited to just the 34 minutes on Saturday night, with the club taking a conservative approach after the New Zealand international suffered a cork to his calf.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 16: Brandon Smith of the Melbourne Storm runs during a Melbourne Storm NRL media session at Gosch's Paddock on May 16, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Hoffman revealed that Smith is likely to face the Roosters next week as the club hold no major concerns on the injury.

"As Brandon said after the match, there was a bit of grade three carry on," Hoffman said.

"He was taken off more as a precautionary action - he only had a calf cork."

The Storm have leapt into top spot on the NRL ladder ahead of the second Origin clash, now edging out Penrith on the summit thanks to their points differential of 344.

Melbourne have a bye scheduled for Round 17 before matches against the Knights, Cowboys and Panthers.

Published by
Mitch Keating