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Melbourne Storm backs are relishing the opportunity to play behind a bigger NRL pack according to promising five-eighth Gareth Widdop.
The Englishman is in his second full season in the role and says he expects to be increasingly targeted by the opposition.
But the 23-year-old believes the acquisition of forwards such as former Test prop Jason Ryles from the Sydney Roosters, as well as St George Illawarra’s Michael Greenfield, makes his job a little easier.
Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith said last week the Storm felt they were out-muscled by the physical Warriors outfit in their preliminary final loss, and now rated the current pack as the biggest during his time at the club.
Widdop hoped the extra size would work in their favour.
“Last year I think we lacked it a little bit,” Widdop said on Monday.
“With Greeny (Greenfield) and Rylesy (Ryles), we’ve got a big forward pack this year and I think that’s going to be good for us.
“The outside backs and myself and Cooper (Cronk) can play off the back of that.”
Widdop and Test No.7 Cronk had their first hit-out together in the Storm’s final trial match, which resulted in a 34-30 win over Brisbane in Hobart.
The five-eighth didn’t believe their lack of playing time ahead of their season opener on Sat March 3 against the Raiders in Canberra would be an issue.
“Last year we worked well,” he said.
“I think it will take one or two games to get back in the swing of things but we’ve got two weeks before round one so we’ll be working hard to get it right.”
Greenfield joined Melbourne this season from St George Illawarra and has previously played with Souths as well as one game with Cronulla.
The 26-year-old said he leapt at the chance to play with the Storm, where coach Craig Bellamy has a proven reputation for turning average forwards into champions.
He said he quickly realised during the pre-season that success wasn’t due to luck.
“I think it’s the work ethic that he drives down here definitely,” Greenfield said.
“I’ve realised with the pre-season that I’ve had down here that it’s not through luck that he’s turned all those frontrowers into such good players, its through a lot of hard work.”
The prop has had a bad run of injuries, including neck surgery, and hoped his move south would be a fresh start.
“I’ve just got to take the opportunity,” he said.
“I’m playing with such good players down here so hopefully they can bring the best out in me and hopefully I can help the team.”
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The Crowd Says (13) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
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- Gareth Widdop, Melbourne Storm, NRL, Rugby League
February 21st 2012 @ 10:36am
Bearfax said | February 21st 2012 @ 10:36am | Report comment
Yes Melbourne will be there, probably in top 3. Mind you I wonder what miracle of money management they’re using this year to maintain their squad and then enhance it
February 21st 2012 @ 11:57am
Meesta Cool said | February 21st 2012 @ 11:57am | Report comment
Bearfax. Melbourne will be using the same ‘Miracles of Money Management’ that clubs will be using.. have a look at the squads of a few teams and wonder!. Then wonder who will get away with their schemes.
I will not sling any stones at other clubs, but anyone with ‘Independent thought processes’ and ‘minimal mathematics skills’ should be able to work them out themselves!! MOVE ON MATE!.
February 21st 2012 @ 12:13pm
Blazza said | February 21st 2012 @ 12:13pm | Report comment
Bearfax.
Its comments like this that make me love the Storm even more and laugh at people like you who a just still jealous of what this club is.
Congratulations to you, and i hope your team does well this year.
February 21st 2012 @ 2:28pm
Bearfax said | February 21st 2012 @ 2:28pm | Report comment
I knew I could get a bite. Dont take me seriously I was just after a reaction and thanks guys you gave it to me. When you’re fishing you’ve got to use the right bait my dear old dad used to say to me. You’ll always catchthe ones you can tease best.
February 22nd 2012 @ 10:42am
Blazza said | February 22nd 2012 @ 10:42am | Report comment
Yeah good work champ, keep being cool.
hope your team goes great guns this year.
February 22nd 2012 @ 8:50pm
Bearfax said | February 22nd 2012 @ 8:50pm | Report comment
Blazza. My team cops what I gave your team, only with all seriousness, year after unrelenting year that kind of abuse. Though I was being facetious about your team, unfortunately those who get stuck into the team I support do it with malicious intent. So now and then I give it a try on other teams to see how their supporters react and feel about it, to appreciate why we get sick of slung stones.
Wonder if you can guess which team I am alluding to….and then maybe you’ll appreciate my attitude. I’ve done this to a few other clubs with similar results.
ps In fact I quite like the Melbourne side and honestly wish you well…good coach and some great players. Top side.
February 23rd 2012 @ 3:58pm
Blazza said | February 23rd 2012 @ 3:58pm | Report comment
Your whole argument is just stupid and your just being a troll why give another team crap when you have gotten it before.
As a Storm fan i’ve officially moved on from 2010 and will always remember celebrating my team win those 2 grand finals. Everyone that still calls the Storm cheats are just jealous of what a proud club they are and that they stick together through anything. And also that we have 3 of the best players in the world.
February 22nd 2012 @ 3:37pm
Meesta Cool said | February 22nd 2012 @ 3:37pm | Report comment
Troll!… lol..
February 23rd 2012 @ 4:24pm
Bearfax said | February 23rd 2012 @ 4:24pm | Report comment
Ah Blazza and Meesta Cool. Your reactions confirm my assessment. Empathy is obviously an ugly word south of the border. That is unless you’re the victim of course
February 23rd 2012 @ 4:32pm
Blazza said | February 23rd 2012 @ 4:32pm | Report comment
Mate im a Storm supporter from QLD. Your whole point on trolling on purpose cause it happens to u about your team is just childish. Why bother doing it. To keep bringing something up thats happened and the team be punished for makes no sense. It’s a new competition new year. If everyone like you goes trolling other people’s fans like you do things would get ugly very fast. Just move on support whoever you support and go into this season hoping your team gets beaten by the Storm in the GF
February 23rd 2012 @ 9:07pm
Bearfax said | February 23rd 2012 @ 9:07pm | Report comment
Blazza lets get a couple of things straight.
Firstly my targets are not people seemingly like you who appreciate other sides worth and respect the integrity of the club. I have no dispute with you.
You call it childish,and perhaps to an extent it is. But I’ve been on these forums for only a short while and its the same old rubbish poured on the club I support, and lets be clear its been happening since the early 80s. I’ve seen significant percentages of forums set aside to have a go at the club I support without justification, but with malice and total myopic bias.
I’ve always up to now and still do in the majority of forums given each club its credit. But the abuse, which obviously you are oblivious to, from other supporters just goes beyond the pale….and there is no one like you jumping to the clubs defence and declaring such behaviour as ‘childishness’ etc. Easy when your club doesnt cop a continuous trail of this rubbish and let me say it has been some of your supporters who have been up there making those abusive comments. ..didnt hear you objecting to their comments.
Sometimes giving supporters a taste of their own abuse gets things in perspective for them.
But hey. As I’ve said I like your team and I have nothing against honorable supporters who enjoy the game for what it is. Unfortunately the world is not so pure.
February 21st 2012 @ 1:11pm
Gareth said | February 21st 2012 @ 1:11pm | Report comment
Greenfield is a good pickup. Not convinced on Ryles.
February 22nd 2012 @ 1:42pm
eclipz said | February 22nd 2012 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
I reckon great things are in store for Widdop. A champion in the making for sure.