Storm swirling as experience gives way to newbies
CHANGE has been a constant at Melbourne throughout the Storm’s 19 seasons but even coach Craig Bellamy can’t remember player turnover like he’s experiencing now.
The Storm’s Round 1 lineup will feature at least five different faces from the 17 that lost last year’s grand final to Cronulla, with confirmation yesterday representative back-rower Tohu Harris has been struck down with a stress fracture in his foot. The Kiwi international will miss up to 10 weeks and Bellamy also revealed star fullback Billy Slater would miss at least the opening two games as he continues to build strength in a shoulder operated on twice in the past two years.
The grand finalists will likely open the season with a fill-in five-eighth too as Bellamy’s preferred option, Cameron Munster, could be required at fullback against Canterbury on Friday night.
That’s two new backrowers replacing Harris and Gold Coast co-captain Kevin Proctor, a new winger after the departure of Marika Koroibete, a replacement on the bench for Ben Hampton and a new pivot to fill the shoes of Blake Green.
Bellamy’s five-eighth options loom as Ryley Jacks or 19-year-old Brodie Croft.
“Cameron (Munster) has trained in the halves most of the pre-season, and putting him back now would be a big call. But we have to do what we think is the best thing for the team,” Bellamy said.
“There’s no getting away from the fact all the guys we lost, we lost a lot of experience.
“But all those guys have had plenty of time in different positions in the preseason to know what their role is.”