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Live sport on SN this weekendStorm hooker injured as finals hopes all but end
Jasper Bruce, AAP • July 24th, 2026 11:10 pm
The Rabbitohs have scored a stunning come-from-behind win over Melbourne in Sydney | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Melbourne captain Harry Grant has suffered a hamstring injury in a 28-26 loss to South Sydney that leaves the depleted Storm's NRL finals aspirations hanging by a thread.
The Storm's hopes of a 16th consecutive finals berth now hinge on five consecutive wins to finish the regular season and even that may not be enough to guarantee qualification.
Grant is set to miss at least some of the fight for Melbourne's season, joining big names Cameron Munster, Xavier Coates, Eli Katoa, Tui Kamikamica and Will Warbrick on the pine.
The Queensland hooker pulled up sore just before halftime in Friday's clash at Accor Stadium but is hopeful of playing again this season.
"I feel that way, but you're a little bit blind until you go in for the scans and get a bit of feedback from that," Grant said.
"It's part of the game, but it's a pretty common occurrence at the moment."
Harry Grant lasted just 22 minutes before he was forced from the field in Sydney | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Grant threw his headgear to the ground in frustration after suffering the Storm's latest injury, surely aware that the death knell was beginning to sound on his side's season.
The reigning runners-up have endured roster turnover and injury carnage in 2026, never truly recovering from a seven-game losing streak that began in March.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy insisted he was not focused on his 11th-placed side's mathematical finals hopes.
"You start using that word 'mathematically' and you're in trouble," he said.
"I imagine some of it will be on other results so we're not in control of that. We're not going to concern ourselves with that. We just need to start defending better, that's all it comes down to.
"Then if we do make it, or we don't make, then so be it."After a torrid week that claimed David Fifita (suspension), Cam Murray (calf) and Tallis Duncan (hamstring), the Rabbitohs lost their own hooker Brandon Smith (calf) to injury.
But the victory was crucial to South Sydney's own finals hopes, which had been thrown into jeopardy with two losses from their previous four games.
Souths were staring down the possibility of falling out of the top eight to finish the weekend when Tyran Wishart and Nick Meaney crossed in quick succession during the final 15 minutes.
Right centre Meaney scythed over to give the Storm a two-point lead with 10 minutes to play.
But when fullback Sua Fa'alogo, excellent to that point, fumbled Cody Walker's 40/20 kick into touch, the home side had the chance to strike back.
Tryscoring record holder Alex Johnston crossed for one of six Souths four-pointers at Accor Stadium | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Recently re-signed halfback Ashton Ward found Campbell Graham with a beautiful cutout pass on the right side to give Souths a two-point lead that they held.
"It impacts on your life enormously, a loss (rather) than a win. It can cover up all the mistakes and you can be a lot more relaxed about what you're doing," said Souths coach Wayne Bennett
Fa'alogo had been essential as Melbourne, down 8-0 after as many minutes, rallied for a 16-8 halftime lead.
Most memorably, he beat four defenders then turned rival fullback Matt Dufty inside out on an 80-metre tear for the visitors' third try.
But without Grant patrolling the middle of the park, the Rabbitohs snatched back ascendancy in the second half and began to pick apart the Storm's edges - a defensive weakness for the Melburnians all year.
Ashley Klein became the most-capped NRL referee by officiating his 444th game.
