3 minute read

Ahead of their qualifying final against Cronulla, Melbourne skipper Harry Grant says he's inspired by retired club legend Cameron Smith.

Inspired by the Storm superstar who went before him, skipper Harry Grant wants to leave his own mark on Melbourne, starting by leading his team to a premiership.

The Storm get their NRL finals campaign underway at AAMI Park on Saturday afternoon, with the minor premiers hosting fourth-placed Cronulla.

Grant, who took over the Melbourne captaincy this season, said he wanted to follow in the footsteps of long-time captain Cameron Smith, who also played at hooker.

Smith was at the helm for three premierships - 2012, 2017 and 2020.

"It inspires you, you want to do your part for the club and leave the club in a good place," Grant said on Wednesday.

"That's what Cam (Smith) did for the number nine jersey, and for the club itself.

"You really feel a responsibility to follow, in that sense."

Grant missed playing in Melbourne's last title-winning team, spending the 2020 season on loan at Wests Tigers, but said he felt "privileged" to learn from the best in Smith and other retired Storm greats Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk.

The 26-year-old has thrived in the captaincy role and didn't expect anything to change about his, or the team's, approach to the finals.

"It's just important we keep doing what we've done all season," Grant said.

"You've got to keep it pretty similar as at the end of the day, you're just going out, playing out another 80 minutes of football but internally, you know your strengths and you know what needs to raise a level."

Melbourne bowed out of last year's title race with a preliminary final loss to Penrith but Grant felt the growth in a number of younger players could help them go all the way this season.

He named back-rowers Eliesa Katoa, Shawn Blore and Trent Loiero as big improvers as well as utility Tyran Wishart, winger Will Warbrick and centre Jack Howarth.

"Those guys have really been big improvers but you could say that across the board ... the list is pretty long," Grant said.

"I feel like there's a lot of players that have grown within the system and understand what it's like to be a Melbourne Storm player week to week."

Grant also felt the injuries through the season to key players such as Cameron Munster, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Xavier Coates had actually worked in the side's favour.

"It's really galvanised the group and given guys an opportunity throughout the year to come in, play a few games and feel really comfortable and confident with their standings within the squad."

But their star spine are all set to play in the AAMI Park match, including fullback Papenhuyzen who missed the final regular season match with a leg injury.

Halfback Jahrome Hughes has been in the spotlight as a favourite to win this year's Dally M medal and Grant said it would be well deserved.

"He's been the most influential and probably the best player in the competition consistently over the course of the season," Grant said of his No.7.

"But I know Hughsey, he's very selfless and he's not thinking about that.

"He's thinking about our team and what he can do well for our team and where we want to push forward to so I think that (the medal) will take care of itself.

"We're in a good position if he can take his form into the finals."