LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Debate has intensified among NRL legends following the announcement that Harry Grant will not be eligible for the Dally M medal. The captain of the Melbourne Storm is currently serving a two-game suspension for a shoulder charge on Bulldogs forward Harry Hayes during Round 25.
As a result, Grant missed the Friday night loss to the Roosters and will return just in time for the first week of the NRL finals. However, he faced an additional setback on Sunday when it was confirmed he is now ineligible to compete for the Dally M medal.
According to NRL regulations, players who receive a suspension of two games or more become ineligible for the award. A one-game suspension leads to a loss of three Dally M points.
Grant was not among the top ten when the voting closed at the end of Round 12. His absence during the State of Origin period also diminishes his chances of being a contender for the Dally M after the regular season concludes.
On a Triple M radio show, esteemed journalist Phil Rothfield expressed his belief that Grant could potentially finish "in the top two or three." Currently, James Tedesco is the frontrunner, and he was second in the voting behind Luke Metcalf, who has since been sidelined with an ACL injury.
Rothfield communicated with the NRL, who confirmed Grant's ineligibility, prompting James Graham and Gorden Tallis to debate the fairness of the existing rules.
"So the shoulder charge on Harry Hayes has made him ineligible to win the most prestigious individual award. Wow," Graham remarked. Tallis added that the games lost due to suspension should serve as adequate punishment in itself.