Storm won't stop Grant from lining up for clash with Tigers

Harry Grant will be free to line up against Melbourne when he returns from injury, despite the rising star being on loan at the Wests Tigers and set to resume his career in purple next year.

The 22-year-old young gun has been the breakout rookie of 2020 since joining the club on a temporary swap deal with Paul Momirovski,

But the Storm won't force their future No.9 to sit out the round 19 clash with the Tigers on September 19.

Unlike the Panthers' loan deal with Warriors prop Jack Hetherington, who will be forced to miss next week's clash with Penrith, both clubs agreed Grant and Momirovski could play against their respective sides when deals were negotiated in March.

Momirovski has already been spared the prospect of tackling his former teammates as he is in the early stages of a three-month recovery period after undergoing surgery on a torn finger tendon in July.

However, Grant is likely to be fit for the Storm clash before the finals after being ruled out of action for 3-4 weeks following knee surgery on Friday.

The joint venture club agreed for Grant to undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his meniscus this week after transparent communication between the two clubs' medical and football operations staff.

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary indicated it was a mutual decision for Hetherington to not line up opposite them in round 14.

"I don't think it's in anyone's best interests for Jack to play, it's more a well-being thing," Cleary said of the 24-year-old forward.

"Jack's not comfortable for a start to play against his teammates and I don't think our boys would be comfortable.

"It's more there'd be too much compromise for either team and I think the Warriors understand that situation.

"Jack's been doing a good job for them so they're happy for him to take that stance.

"It's a week-to-week proposition with Jack anyway, I know the contracts work in four-week blocks but essentially he's only one injury away to coming back."

Parramatta may also make a similar decision on Daniel Alvaro and George Jennings if they extend their four-week loan deals with the Warriors into next month.

The Eels face the Warriors in round 17 on September 6 – a fortnight after the fringe pair's current loan offer is expected to end.

Raiders recruit Corey Harawira-Naera has already ruled himself out of playing his former club Canterbury in round 16 as part of the terms in his mid-season contract release.

However, the Warriors haven't stood in the way of Newcastle recruit Blake Green, who will line up against his former teammates in the same round.