So the Storm managed to win without the two Camerons. But maybe, instead of the two Camerons, we should be discussing the two Smiths. Because bloody hell, what about Brandon?
The conversation this year has – justifiably – been around what happens in 2021 with regards to the Storm’s hooking role, because when voting went behind closed doors, Harry Grant was leading the Dally M count as the best player in the game.
But Harry is at the Tigers on a loan deal. He’s actually Melbourne’s next-best hooker.
Except… is he?
Brandon Smith is the incumbent Test No.9 for the Kiwis and just quietly steered the Storm around in their 24-6 trouncing of the Roosters.
And yes, yes the Chooks were down on troops, but the Storm were out on their feet as well – and before the game even started. No Cameron Smith. No Cameron Munster. They’re two of the five best players in the world.
Yet Brandon stepped up and led his team to a resounding victory over the two-time reigning premiers.
We talk about what Harry Grant is going to do next year because it’s a worthwhile conversation. If Cameron Smith decides to play on – and, jokes about him playing until he’s 70 aside, he has at least another year in his legs if he has the desire – then what does the Tigers’ temporary dummy-half do?
Except in among all this is what does Brandon Smith do?
He’s a victim of his own brilliance. The best hooker in New Zealand, Brandon has to cool his heels because the best hooker of all time is at his club. So Brandon goes and plays wherever he’s required.
For most utilities, that means slotting in as a makeshift half, a ball-playing lock, or a centre with a fierce cut-out ball.
Brandon? Um, he just goes and plays prop.
What do you even mean? Andrew Johns calls prop the easiest but hardest position in the game. It’s reserved for the biggest and scariest of men. Brandon weighs in at 94 kilos, but he has more than held his own in the middle.
Hard, hard man. A rugby league champion the likes of which I can’t recall.
But he wants to play hooker, because he’s awesome at it. And Craig Bellamy has the headache in 2021 of whether he’s going to select Cameron Smith (the greatest hooker of all time), Brandon Smith (the greatest hooker in New Zealand) or Harry Grant (the greatest young hooker in the game) as his No.9.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
It’s a good headache to have. But it’s still a headache.
Meanwhile, in Newcastle, the Curse of the Buderus continues to haunt the red and blue.
First-choice hooker Jayden Brailey does his ACL and is out for the year.
So the Knights take advantage of the fact the Broncos are a dumpster fire and sign former Origin hooker Andrew McCullough – with Brisbane somehow also managing to pay a load of his freight.
Of course, McCullough rips the hamstring from the bone and his season is over.
No worries, Connor Watson played hooker at the back end of last year and was great.
So six minutes after McCullough’s season is ended, Watson ruptures his Achilles and he’s finished for 2020 as well.
Three of Newcastle’s best and highest-paid players are out for the year. What’s to be done?
Easy, move Kurt Mann to 9.
Kurt, Mann! (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Hooker? Injured. Hooker? Injured. Hooker? Injured.
Sweet, just put your best player in at hooker.
It’s bonkers when you think about it – the Knights’ fourth-choice No.9 doubles as their finest, most consistent competitor of 2020.
Mann is the presumptive Danny Buderus Medalist as the club’s best and fairest (I said as much to the pair when I took the lead image of them at the game on Sunday), and while a top-eight finish should be all Adam O’Brien is worried about, in this crazy, injury-ravaged season, any team who makes the finals could shake things up and be there on grand final day.
At this stage, you’d be brave or stupid to bet against Brandon’s Storm – and, with the Camerons out, it is Brandon’s Storm – being there on October 25.
Quite how it all shapes up for Melbourne at No.9 next year is anyone’s guess. Could be Cameron Smith. Could be Brandon Smith. Could be Harry Grant.
Good headache? I dunno. Just sounds like a headache.
Newcastle? Could be Jayden Brailey. Could be Andrew McCullough. Could be Connor Watson.
At the moment, it’s Kurt Mann.
And honestly, the fourth choice is my preference.
Taree Raider
Guest
Kurt Mann is the most under rated player in the NRL. He is consistently very good, week in, week out.
Willie La'ulu
Roar Guru
The teams that can afford to throw cash at him are literally all losing sides. Bulldogs, Warriors and the Titans. He ends up in a losing scenario if he walks.
Paul
Roar Guru
If Mann has another season like this next year and Brailey follows suit, both could be looking at a nice payday,but as you say, that's a something that needs to be proved through game time.
Big Daddy
Guest
Now I'd like to see that. :stoked: :thumbup:
Greg
Roar Pro
Agree with everything except " If he wants to play hooker that bad, he will end up on a losing side playing dummy". Leaving the Storm doesn't necessarily mean going to a losing side.
mickey of mo$man
Guest
Agree with regards to Kurt Mann, but Brailey is a couple years off demanding good money (assuming he stays on the field) and Watson i wouldn't be paying much for at all... that coming from a Knights fan. Kids got heart but injury prone and is really unproven at this point.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
May want to play into his forties, I ‘m thinking the Bride might have a say -apparently likes diamond rings,they don’t come cheap.
Adam
Roar Guru
He's a 13 all day.
Adam
Roar Guru
Smith to coach the Broncos next year?
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
He's lucky Manly let him go is the point I'm making. I got blasted on the Eagles forum a few years back when I said he was good enough to be our hooker when we next won a title so I'm not exactly in the dark about his value. Apparently he can't pass or so they say.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Well Mann is a Storm product so of course he can play hooker!! Its the Cam Smith halo effect. Even Tom Eisenhuth had a 20 minute spell against the Roosters when Brandon went for HIA. Jokes aside, it is quite a conundrum. The dream scenario for Storm fans is if B.Smith plays 13 as Willie pointed out in his comment. If he wants to play 9 then it will be between him and Harry and as much as I love the Cheese I think the smart money would be on Harry. Firstly I think Harry plays better for the whole 80, especially with the new rules. Brandon's style and aggression is so energy sapping he is good for around 60-70 and I think is more likely to induce injuries if he played there the whole season. Other points in Harry's favor is age, his control of a game, his accurate passing and receiver choice and finally his kicking game. Defensively they're both strong, Brandon more aggressive and Harry covers more ground. Just so tough to let go of a player the quality and personality of Brandon Smith so really hoping he takes the 13 spot.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Would love for Brandon to be 13. I think he would excel at it and he plays exactly how you'd like a 13 to go. The question is whether he wants to.
elvis
Roar Rookie
I dunno, a lot of great players in the past finished their careers in the bush :-)
The Barry
Roar Guru
Couldn’t agree more I wrote something similar on the weekend (got called a hater for it :silly: ) If someone wanted to put forward their reasons on why B Smith is a better player than Grant, I’ll listen all day long. But after half a season, Grant is already a better dummy half than Smith Smith’s service from dummy half fluctuates between good to poor. Grant has Smith’s metronomic delivery. Grant takes better options than B Smith For me top shelf dummy half play is about getting that first movement right at the right time, pass from the ground, take two steps and engage the marker or the a defender. It either gets the forwards rolling forward or puts them on the back foot. C Smith is the best I’ve ever seen by a margin. Grant is incredible for a 10 game rookie. B Smith is good, but not in the league of the other two The other thing about B Smith at dummy half is there’s no subtlety. If you watch C Smith, when he’s going to go down the blind side, he’ll approach the ruck as he does every other time and then change his body position at the last minute. You don’t see it coming B Smith strolls up to dummy half points out to the right and then bends down positioning himself for a clear right to left pass (or vice versa). He does it regularly and it’s as subtle as a sledge hammer B Smiths strength is his ball running game. Putting him at dummy half limits his opportunity to do that. I’d play him at 13 - he’s a natural for that position. That spine (incl 13) you’ve listed can potentially drive another decade of dominance for the Storm
Paul
Roar Guru
I think the issue both Clubs will face is the salary cap, maybe not in 2021 but after next year. If Cam Smith stays there's probably no issues in the short term for the Storm but further down the track, they may struggle to keep both Brandon Smith & Grant in the same side, assuming Grant continues to develop into a top class hooker. Both would be worth serious dollars and in B Smith's case he might really want to play hooker. The Knights may have similar problems, more because they're spending on quite a few others, eg Ponga, Pearce, Klemmer, etc. I'm guessing they got Mann at a reduced price but if his form stays as good as it's been, I'd have thought he could command more money. Ditto with Brailey & Watson if they improve.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Storm will know where he is leaning. Grant looks to want a full-time starting gig. He will be Storm or Tigers hooker next season. i agree B.Smith may be willing to play his current role for one more season, and then take over. If Grant returns, the Tigers and Warriors will be good fits for Smith
Rob
Guest
Don't think there is any luck at all involved with Penrith improving out of sight since he arrived. His signing along with the big improvements in Cleary's game are the two main reasons that Penrith is doing so well, not luck.
Willie La'ulu
Roar Guru
As an avid Storm fan, I know this is crazy to say, but I think Cam is damaging the club moreso, by staying. I think he will retire and I hope he does, so the future can shine brightly. Regarding who takes what, as good as Brandon is, Harry is just a better hooker. Plain and simple. Brandon's deliveries from dummy when hes tired are very subpar and can be very sloppy with his service. I haven't seen more than 2 bad passes from Grant this year (I watch the Tiger's literally for him) and he plays exactly like a young Cam. Brandon could be the next Radley hybrid 13 if he wanted to be, but it's all up to him. If he wants to play hooker that bad, he will end up on a losing side playing dummy. OR If he wants to win, he would make a REALLY good 13, playing in the middle linking between the hooker and both halves on each side, he would be superb at it. I can see a future with: 13: B. Smith 9: Grant 7: Hughes 6: Munster 1: Pap (FYI, Dale moves to prop. He plays like a prop anyway). In my long winded opinion, Cam retires, Harry plays 9 and it's all up to Brandon on what he does.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I wonder if the club will regret letting Tino go instead of tapping C. Smith on the shoulder? Based on history , they get it right just about all the time but they'd better be careful a little bit of a circus doesn't develop. They were probably never going to match the Goldies offer for Tino but maybe he stays for a lot less if Smith's future was clear.
Tony
Roar Guru
Won't happen Dirk. Nothing to be gained by going to the Broncos