Storm get down to business

Melbourne have held their first training session in London ahead of the World Club Challenge against English Super League champions Leeds.

After being forced to move their skills practice when heavy rain left the original venue waterlogged, the NRL premiers held a light but lively session on astro turf at a school in south-west London.

Veteran five-eighth Brett Finch, who played last weekend’s inaugural NRL All Stars game, said he and his Storm teammates had a surprising amount of energy despite arriving from Australia just 24 hours earlier.

“The guys had a good sleep last night and the staff put a lot of work into the information behind when to sleep and what to eat and how to approach the flight so the boys all turned up pretty good today, which is great,” he said.

Finch, who played longer than expected in the 16-12 loss to the Indigenous All Stars after Darren Lockyer injured his arm, said he felt good for the hit-out.

“It was a great couple of days, to work with (coach) Wayne Bennett and get a chance to play with guys like Darren Lockyer,” Finch said.

“It was a tremendous experience and great to be involved in the first game.

“It was a pretty special game for the indigenous people of our community and the NRL, so I was really happy to be a part of it.”

The Storm play a warm-up game against Harlequins at The Stoop in Twickenham on Monday (AEDT).

All Stars Cameron Smith, Adam Blair and Billy Slater, who was selected but missed the match with an ankle problem, will fly to London on Thursday and are therefore unavailable this weekend.

“It will be great to get them over here and back in the team,” Finch said.

“I was speaking to Billy and he probably could have played the All Star game if it was a regular season comp game but there was too much at stake with our season around the corner and also the game against Leeds.”

Melbourne play the Rhinos, three-time defending Super League champions, in the WCC at Elland Road on February 28.

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