Jahrome Hughes’ decision to re-sign with the Storm could prove “infectious” for the rest of the club’s superstar spine, with skipper Harry Grant confirming conversations have started for him to extend his stay beyond 2026.

The club locked in the reigning Dally M Medal winner last week on a long-term deal and the attention now shifts to Grant, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster who are the core four who can help them win premierships.

“I think it definitely does (affect my decision) knowing that you’ve got your halfback and a guy that I’ve got a really good relationship with on and off the field,” Grant said.

“He takes control of the team, leads the team around the park well and you know he’s going to perform week in, week out.

“If you have this within your club, it’s pretty infectious and that’s what you want to be as a footy team – a footy team that wants to raise the bar and keep getting better.”

Grant is signed until the end of 2026 but would be free to negotiate with rivals from November 1 if a deal isn’t struck by then.

It’s something he’s not focused on as he prepares to play his 100th game for the club in Thursday’s heavyweight showdown with the Broncos, with the Storm desperate to keep the game’s best dummy-half.

“Those conversations always happen and they’ve been happening,” he said.

“It’s just when that time’s right to sit down and knuckle something down and know what that looks like.

“As a player and a club, we’ve all got really good relationships in that sense. There have been those conversations happening, but that’ll come when the time’s right.

“You’ve just got to be delicate of when that is.

“The main thing at the moment is playing good footy. So for me, it’s knowing that I’ve got to do whatever it takes to perform.”

While other clubs would love to have the Queensland and Australia hooker, the emergence of Rugby360 could also mean Grant fields enormous offers to switch codes.

“My old principal when I was in primary school told me I was better suited to rugby union, but I never put my hand up (to play),” he said.

“Everyone is an athlete at the end of the day, and you’ve seen plenty of guys that have been able to make the switch from rugby union to rugby league, so I don’t see why it would be any different.

“If it’s in guys’ best interests and it’s a decision they want to make, then I don’t think any player or anyone should hold anything against them in that regard.”

Grant said the threat of other codes should lead to the NRL focusing on grassroots footy and looking to develop the future with all the emerging talent out there.

It comes amid reports that R360 bosses met with Papenhuyzen in Melbourne last month as they try to pinch as much top-end talent as possible.

“He’s a businessman, Paps, so he’s probably had meetings with plenty of people,” Grant said, hoping the Storm can keep their spine together for as long as possible.

“You want to keep everyone, you want to keep the squad together.

“As players, we know we’re here to perform and to get the best out of ourselves. All that stuff is not a worry that I need to be stressed about or thinking about.

“There’s so much trust with the guys up top, so whatever decision is made in terms of the roster, then we’re comfortable with that.”

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