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Bellamy: Too early to resolve Grant's future with Storm not rushing Smith

Storm coach Craig Bellamy is not keen to pull out the crystal ball and predict what he'll do with Harry Grant if Cameron Smith decides to play on in 2021.

Bellamy has immense respect for Smith and will never interfere in any decision his long-serving Storm captain needs to make.

There has been a lot of talk around Grant's future since he's been such a revelation at the Wests Tigers in the swap deal with centre Paul Momirovski.

The 22-year-old rake has been dynamic setting up tries and line breaks in his six Telstra Premiership appearances for the Tigers since the competition resumed. And he's not just an attacking threat. His work ethic produces an average 48 tackles and 98 running metres per match.

He's risen to second place on the Dally M Leaderboard, just one point behind in-form Parramatta skipper Clint Gutherson.

Grant's efforts have not gone unnoticed by Bellamy but he's reluctant to debate his future with the Storm if Smith continues for a 20th season in the NRL.

Grant starts it and finishes it for Wests Tigers

"It's too early to make that call because there's a lot to unfold there," he told NRL.com.

"But with all due respect if Harry was at any other club he would have been playing first grade last year."

Bellamy also has a huge amount of time for Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire, since he spent six years as his assistant before moving to Wigan in Super League and then the Rabbitohs.

Wests Tigers hooker Harry Grant.
Wests Tigers hooker Harry Grant. ©Gregg Porteous/NRL.com

"There's an arrangement there – we were a bit short in outside backs so getting Paul was a good thing for us," Bellamy said.

"But it’s also good for Harry to play NRL. If he'd stayed with us he probably wouldn't have got that opportunity with the two Smiths [Cameron and Brandon] here.

"It's been great for the Tigers obviously and great for Harry so it's turned out pretty good for everyone.

"When he comes back to us he would have a year of first grade under his belt."

Momirovski had to wait his turn but has impressed Melbourne with his efforts out wide recently. His intention is to return to Maguire's squad even though he has been enjoying his time with the Storm.

Bellamy is unsure what he'd say if Grant told him that he wanted to stay with the Wests Tigers.

"I don't know exactly what will happen in that situation, we've got a fair bit on our minds at the moment with moving to the Sunshine Coast, relocating our operation and personnel," he said.

"The [swap] contract says that Paul goes back to the Tigers next year and Harry comes back to us. So I don't think there's a whole of manoeuvring there."

Acknowledgement of Country

Melbourne Storm respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.