Ryan Hinchcliffe is the Melbourne Storm’s Mr Reliable. Rarely misses a game; rarely misses a tackle.

Against the Dragons on Monday night at Jubilee Oval, Hinchcliffe will chalk up 150 NRL games with Melbourne, having only missed six games since his club debut in 2009.

Last year he made 829 tackles, second only to his captain Cameron Smith despite much less game time.

It’s his selfless attitude that has endeared the 30-year-old to the NRL club and its coach Craig Bellamy.

Just the ninth player to reach the milestone at the Storm, Hinchcliffe deserves the spotlight against the Dragons.

But despite training at hooker the entire pre-season, he will start from the bench; relegated by the surprise return of Smith, who had ankle surgery in December and wasn’t expected to play until round three.

But Hinchcliffe wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s a huge difference to have him out there,” Hinchcliffe said.

“Everyone knows the calibre of player that he is and what he brings to our side so fingers crossed that he will be right to go.”

Hinchcliffe’s Storm debut in 2009 came in a round one clash with the Dragons which ended in a 17-16 win by Melbourne.

“I think I played about 10 minutes and I think Greg Inglis kicked a field goal to win it in golden point,” Hinchcliffe said.

“At that time I was just a young kid looking for an opportunity so six or seven years later to have been able to chalk up 150 games at the club, it’s something I’m very proud of.”

According to Fox Sports Stats, the Storm can become the only team in history to win their opening match of the season for 11 consecutive seasons, eclipsing the Rabbitohs who did so between 1922 and 1931.

Hinchcliffe said it reflected their hard work in the off-season.

“Records don’t speak for too much but I know the work that we put in in the pre-season usually holds us in good stead at the start of the year,” he said.