A plan hatched in 2014 will come to fruition in Sunday’s NRL grand final against North Queensland, with Melbourne sending out their biggest-ever forward pack.
After getting monstered through the middle by Canterbury in the elimination final that year the Storm decided they needed to add some size to compete.
They bought Dale Finucane from the Bulldogs and fast-tracked Jordan McLean and promising teenage giant Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
“It’s been well-documented that Cameron (Smith) spoke to Craig (Bellamy) after that final about recruiting bigger guys in our forward pack to aid him and create some room and get some real good go-forward,” Melbourne assistant coach and former Test prop Jason Ryles said.
“That’s a real strength of ours and they’ve done a really good job this year.
“You’ve just got to look along the line, they’re quite a big and physical team and we play to that and use those guys as much as we can.”
As well as exciting, try-scoring backrower Felise Kaufusi, the big addition for the Storm in this year’s decider is Asofa-Solomona, who missed the 2016 grand final loss after dislocating his elbow at training the week before the preliminary final.
Melbourne are counting on his two metre, 115kg frame doing some damage against the Cowboys.
Ryles said Asofa-Solomona had been taken under the wing of former All Black Andrew Blowers, who works at the Storm as a welfare co-ordinator, who had helped him sort out his diet, sleep habits and training.
“Nelson is improving every week,” Ryles said of the 21-year-old Kiwi.
“He’s getting all his off-field stuff sorted and he’s now a lot more consistent and I think that’s showing on the field in how he’s playing.
“Talent-wise isn’t Nelson’s problem, it’s him getting a good routine and making sure he’s consistent with his performance every week.”
Despite the Storm starting pack’s 22kg size advantage over their Cowboys counterparts, Ryles said they couldn’t afford to be complacent.
“We’re just focusing on what we need to do to play well, what they’re doing doesn’t come into our calculations,” Ryles said.
Post grand-final Melbourne will farewell McLean to the Cowboys and Tohu Harris to the Warriors.
But they won’t lose much size with 128kg Bulldogs prop Sam Kasiano joining the club.
HOW MELBOURNE”S FORWARDS COMPARE TO NORTH QUEENSLAND’S FORWARD
Storm, height and weight
Jesse Bromwich, 194cm, 114kg
Jordan McLean, 196cm, 115kg
Felise Kaufusi, 189cm, 109kg
Tohu Harris, 195cm, 112kg
Dale Finucane, 188cm, 106kg
Cameron Smith, 185kg, 92kg
Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 200cm, 115kg
Kenny Bromwich, 183cm, 103kg
Tim Glasby, 188cm, 105kg
Cowboys, height and weight
Scott Bolton, 187cm, 112kg
Shaun Fensom, 182cm, 101kg
Gavin Cooper, 197cm, 108kg
Ethan Lowe, 194cm, 107kg
Jason Taumalolo, 191cm, 113kg
Jake Granville, 172cm, 85kg
Coen Hess, 190cm, 110kg
John Asiata, 183cm, 108kg
Corey Jensen, 188cm, 104kg.