Blues on red-alert as Harry Grant echoes the immortal Cameron Smith in jawdropping Origin debut

24 minutes into the State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium, supercoach Wayne Bennett turned to his bench. Sitting there was a 22-year-old hooker on the verge of his Queensland debut. It was a moment every NRL fan will remember.

Harry Grant already has the eyes on the entire NRL on him, but after his game-breaking Origin debut on Wednesday night, expectations will be immense. Grant, just 22, is already the man sending future immortal Cameron Smith into retirement; the legendary Melbourne captain has admitted he’d “rather leave” than let the Storm lose the youngster. Now he could take the same road in Origin too.

17 years ago, Smith was tossed into the Origin arena for game 3. The scruffy rake had played just 18 games in the NRL, but Wayne Bennet had seen something in him; a greatest that would lead to 11 series wins in 14 for Queensland in the years to follow.

Last night, Grant’s debut felt like the same moment, echoing down through history. Only, perhaps it was even better.

Smith stepped into Origin in a dead-rubber, and wouldn’t win a series until 2006. Grant played 56 minutes at a heaving full-capacity Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night, and but for a scorching Cameron Munster — a clear best on-field — the little hooker would have been man of the match.

Even better again, Grant’s just done it in the team dubbed by serial-loser Paul Gallen the “worst Queensland side ever.” Smith had players like Petero Civoniceva, Gorden Tallis, and of course Darren Lockyer around him. Most of Grant’s teammates were playing their first series.

Despite all that, Grant shone in his first Origin hour, and then some.

In the end, his try in the 62nd minute proved influential. His running proved a hefty handful for the tiring Blues defence. Alongside Munster, Grant took the game by the scruff, and ran with it.

For Freddy Fittler, New South Wales, and Blues fans across the state, alarm bells will be ringing. Last time Queensland unleashed a hooker of this calibre, the Maroons formed a dynasty across two decades.

Gus Gould, a stout Blues loyalist and perhaps New South Wales’ most one-eyed fan — despite his role in commentary — seems to agree.

“I hate putting raps on young fellas like this and certainly I don’t want to do that, but I can remember when Cameron Smith played his first Origin game, back in 2003, and he got our attention straight away,” Phil Gould said during Nines’ Origin broadcast.

Read: The rise of Papenhuyzen: How far can Melbourne’s fullback go?

“And I walked away and I said, well, Origin just night have changed forever at the moment. And I think this fella Harry Grant could well have a similar effect on this Maroons generation. He’s so talented.”

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Blues hooker Damian Cook seems to agree too. In his eyes, Queensland have found a star to rival him “for as long as he [Grant] wants to be in the side.”

“He’s been a great player and he’s had a great season this year. He’s earned the right to play in this Origin team,” the Rabbitohs rake said. “It will be a moment he’ll never forget… scoring that try.”

Read: Harry Grant confirms he won’t be at Tigers for 2021 season

There can be no doubt that Harry Grant has well and truly arrived on rugby league’s biggest stage. It’s a worry for Blues fans everywhere — this Sporting Base writer included — but one that will leave Queensland fans licking their lips ahead of Origin 2021.

In clubland too, Storm fans will be eager for the next season to begin. If the rumours are true, and Smith really will leave Melbourne in a bid to make sure the club can keep Grant, their number nine jersey may again be filled for a decade.

Grant himself is not Smith — it’s possible no one ever comes close — but he’s one of the NRL’s most exciting prospects; whether you’re a Blues fan, or a Maroons diehard, there can be no denying that.

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