The Wests Tigers intend to continue their pursuit of Storm young gun Harry Grant irrespective of the NRL torpedoing the player exchange with Paul Momorovski.

Grant, 22, is widely considered ready to play in the NRL and has spoken publicly about having his “bags packed for the past two weeks” to move to the Tigers.

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Round 19

The Cameron Smith understudy will start in the hooking role for the Storm in Saturday‘s trial match against the New Zealand Warriors in Palmerston North.

Once the trial commitments are complete, Grant is expected to approach Storm coach Craig Bellamy to discuss being released on a loan arrangement to Wests Tigers for 2020.

The Tigers remain intent on giving Grant an opportunity and are still devoid of a specialist no.9 on their roster.

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Captain Moses Mbye, Billy Walters and Josh Reynolds will all train and trial in the position but coach Michael Maguire’s preference is to land Grant on a loan arrangement for this season.

The Storm are unlikely to agree to release Grant prior to round one kickoff on March 12 because they would need to find another replacement player to fill their roster quota to 29 players.

But if they agreed to release Grant after round one, the Storm could then take until up to June 30 to fill the spot vacated.

It’s a loophole the Tigers are hoping may land them one of the NRL’s most talked about rookies.

Harry Grant is stuck behind Cameron Smith and Brandon Smith at the Storm. Source: AAP

The Bulldogs attempted to land Grant’s signature last year by tabling a three-year deal but the rookie no.9 opted to remain in Melbourne.

Signed at Melbourne until the end of 2022, Grant has a get out clause in his contract for 2021 should champion hooker Cameron Smith play on again next season.