Kangaroos hooker Harry Grant will have to contend with Samoa’s assembly line of ferocious forwards for 80 minutes on Sunday night, but it’s a familiar face who is half the size of the men upfront who could prevent Australia from reaching the World Cup final.
Grant loved what he saw from Sua Fa’alogo at the Storm this year, with the local product scoring more tries than any other fullback in the NRL and finishing third for tackle busts.
Fa’alogo was the shining light in a Storm side that missed the finals for the first time since 2010, with the speedster one of just four players to feature in all 24 games as he claimed the club’s player of the year award.
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There were questions at the start of the year over whether he was the right person to replace Ryan Papenhuyzen at the back, but he answered those and more in a year where Grant and other key weapons missed a stack of footy.
“I think he showed throughout the year a lot of hunger and want to be the best version of himself,” the Storm and Kangaroos hooker said.
“He’s super forward in trying to get better. He asks a lot of questions and takes on feedback really well.
“For someone that has so much to give the team, it’s just trying to find the balance to that, and I think he really built that this year.
“He tried to build his game each week, and eventually, with muscle memory and repetition, that all built into a really well-rounded game.
“The fitness and the effort are the two things I see from him. The hunger and want to always be in the contest and give himself the best opportunity to play well on the weekend (have been so impressive).”
Fa’alogo started the World Cup on the bench but still managed four tries in that game, with the attacking weapon forming a potent partnership with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow down the left channel.
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He’s handled the move to the wing and will look to exploit Australia’s right edge which has leaked tries this tournament.
Fa’alogo was almost the hero last week but put a toe on the sideline in the dying stages when he looked to have scored to seal a famous win over Tonga.
It sets up a cracking showdown with the Aussies in Sydney on Sunday, with the winner to play either New Zealand or Tonga in the final.
“I loved what he did in a Storm jersey, but hopefully he doesn’t emulate that in a Samoan jersey,” Grant said.
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“I was waiting for Stefano (Storm and Tonga prop Stefano Utoikamanu) to take a carry off the kick-off and beeline straight to the wing on the weekend.
“He’s a real excitement machine. He plays the game in a unique way, and that’s very dangerous and super unpredictable.
“He deserves all the flowers he gets because he put a lot of time into his game, especially over the last 12 months.”
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