Melbourne Storm’s Kevin Proctor knows the key to beating Souths in their NRL qualifying final is to stop their forwards.
But he also knows it’s easier said than done.
Ahead of their twilight clash at AAMI Park on Saturday the Storm second-rower rated the Souths pack as one of the most formidable in the competition.
“They’re massive; boys like Sam Burgess, Roy Asotasi, Dave Taylor, really massive,” said the 23-year-old.
“But we know that the way to beat them is to stop their go-forward and them getting the ball away to Greggy”.
“Greggy” is former Storm player Greg Inglis, whose recent form at fullback has people talking Immortal status.
The two didn’t play much together before Inglis left Melbourne for Souths ahead of the 2011 season, with Proctor having a protracted recovery from a broken ankle in 2009 just after he had graduated into first grade.
Proctor, who was born in New Zealand and has played for their Maori team, believes this year’s competition is wide open.
He said that Manly and Canterbury may be the favourites but any team, including the Storm, could win on any given day.
“Even teams like the Raiders (who finished sixth) are on a bit of a roll and are playing real good too,” he said.
“It’s just so close this year.”
The Storm will make a decision on Friday on their injured players, prop Jason Ryles and winger Anthony Quinn, with coach Craig Bellamy confident their replacements, if required, can do the job.
Bellamy said youngster Mahe Fonua was a “real chance” of starting on the wing in place of Quinn, becoming the first Victorian rugby league player to line up in an NRL final.