STORM READY FOR SWITCH-HITTER
MELBOURNE’S Origin backrower Felise Kaufusi says Souths star Cameron Murray is even more of a threat after his move to the edge as the NRL teams look for a crucial win in their Friday night clash.
Murray switches between the second row and middle depending on their forwards’ rotation and was a standout in the Round 3 restart despite the loss to the Sydney Roosters.
The 22-year-old scored a try, set up another and also made 38 tackles.
The pair have met in State of Origin and Kaufusi said the move from lock had made Murray, who he will mark at AAMI Park, more dangerous.
“He’s been playing really well, especially towards the back end of last year and playing on an edge has made him more dangerous,” he said.
“He’s a quality player and it’s going to be a big challenge but one I’m up for.”
Murray was on guard for Kaufusi and company as the Storm look to respond to their Round 3 disappointment against Canberra.
“Felise is a strike player with Melbourne so we will look to defend him in numbers and hopefully do a good job,” he said.
“We know how good Storm are. They don’t have too many bad games so we’re expecting them to play the way they’ve proved they can play . . . we’re going to have to play our best to beat them.”
Kaufusi said he was surprised by the pace of the game under one referee, Storm skipper Cameron Smith reinforcing this week the need to quickly adjust.
“Once you’re on the back foot it really takes a few tackles to try to regain that structure or momentum,” the 28-yearold said.
“And if someone pokes their head through or makes a break, all hell breaks loose.
“Cam’s (Smith) main messaging has been learning from the weekend and being able to adapt — I’ve been hearing that word a lot this week from him — to the game that it is now.
“It’s not us at all, we’re always so structured . . . it’s a big change for us, but if we’re going to compete this year we’re going to have to make some changes.”