The departure of Melbourne’s highest point scorer Sisa Waqa means the heat will be on rookie centre Kurt Mann to jag his fair share tries for the Storm this season.

The Fijian flyer left Melbourne for Canberra, but the Storm are confident they still have the flash and dash in their outside backs to cover his absence.

Mann beat some stiff opposition, including the powerful Mahe Fonua, to win a start in the centres in the Storm’s NRL opening round clash with St George Illawarra at Jubilee Oval on Monday night.

“I couldn’t wait to get back in,” Mann, 22, said. “I finished on a disappointing note last year because I didn’t play the last eight games or so, so I’m excited to be back in.”

The Queenslander has an impressive conversion rate, scoring six times from his eight games since making his first grade debut in round nine.

Mann, who added four kilos to his wiry frame in the off-season, said the Storm had plenty of other strike-power as well.

“I think Young Tonumaipea, who has taken Sisa’s spot, is quite capable of doing everything that Sisa did,” Mann said.

“He’s young, talented and a really good player so he’s quite capable of filling Sisa’s shoes.”

Mann is a converted centre, playing most of his junior football at fullback, in the halves and even hooker.

He said that the Storm’s Queensland Origin centre Will Chambers had taken him under his wing.

“They threw me in the deep end a bit in my first game but I’ve learnt a lot off Will Chambers; just been around him and watching what he does.

“He grabs me every now and then and says what I need to do so he’s been a big help to me.”