Melbourne Storm star fullback Billy Slater says he likes what he sees in the club’s new five-eighth recruit Blake Green.

The Storm signed Green from Super League’s Wigan club to give them some more depth in the key position.

Green was man of the match in Wigan’s 2013 grand final win, having previously played for NRL clubs Canterbury, Parramatta and Cronulla.

He will challenge Ben Hampton for the starting No.6 jersey, with the Storm looking to build a more settled combination with their Test halfback Cooper Cronk.

Slater said 28-year-old Green was a handy acquisition for the club and he was looking forward to playing alongside him.

“I’ve been quite impressed with a number of our recruits and Greeny’s been one of them,” Slater said.

“I thought he was exceptional in our trial last week.

“Cooper is a dominant player in our team but Greeny is certainly going to hold his own and I’m sure if he gets that No.6 jersey in round one he’ll take his opportunities.”

Slater said he thought Green’s on-field organisational skills would take that weight off Cronk’s shoulder.

“I’m sure the longer they play together the better the combination will get,” he said.

Green himself said he was looking to testing himself again in the NRL, which he left at the end of 2010.

“I probably struggled a little bit in first grade as a young kid and just needed to get some experience of playing in the halves and some confidence,” Green said.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy has talked up the fitness of Slater, who missed the Four Nations championship due to shoulder surgery.

The up-side for the Storm was that Slater could complete his first full pre-season since 2007.

Slater said he was sick of training and itching to get into action, with their first round away to the Dragons.

“It’s been the longest pre-season I’ve had for a number of years but the only thing that matters is what I do from now on,” Slater said.

“The work that I’ve put in is definitely going to help me but my performances from round one onwards is going to determine how good these last four months have been.”