NRL 2021: Reimis Smith stars in Melbourne, Josh Addo-Carr stuck in Sydney
He isn’t the biggest name in the NRL, but Melbourne might have flown under the radar with the season’s most underrated signing.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Don’t be surprised if in a little over nine months time new Melbourne flyer Reimis Smith is counted as one of the buys of the season.
Smith showed flashes of potential in his five seasons with Canterbury, running in 25 tries in 49 games, but his move to the Storm could transform the 23-year old into one of the game’s best wingers.
That might sound like a tall order, but this is the Storm we’re talking about - taking unheralded outsiders and transforming them into stars is one of the secrets to Craig Bellamy’s success.
With aerial sensation Suliasi Vunivalu heading to rugby union, Smith will battle it out with George Jennings and Isaac Lumelume for the right to replace him and the former Bulldog is the early favourite to start on the right wing in Round 1.
Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
At 196cm and 97kg, Smith has the size and speed to make an immediate impact and is an aerial specialist, just as Vunivalu was, with his vertical prowess promising to ensure Melbourne remain masters of the skies.
“I’ve only been training here but to put this shirt on every day is a blessing. I feel very privileged to be here and I can’t wait to see what the future holds,” Smith said.
“It’s very exciting. From what they’ve done last year it’s really exciting for hopefully me to wear that jersey and play the position the coach needs me to play.”
It won’t be easy for Smith to follow the likes Vunivalu, Josh Addo-Carr, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Justin Olam in becoming another rough diamond that shines in Melbourne.
But Bellamy and the Storm have been doing this for so long now they know exactly what Smith needs to do - there’s no secret recipe, he just needs to commit to their standards and do his job every week.
Of course, that’s easier said than done, but Smith feels he’s on the way there after his initial stint training with the club over the off-season.
“It’s been tough, but it’s very enjoyable. I know the sessions are long, the days are long, but it’s really enjoyable. I’ve been enjoying my time, I’ve been working hard,” Smith said.
“It’s definitely living up to the expectations and a bit more. It’s been tough, but the boys have made me feel at home.
“There’s a little bit of running - a lot of running. With the ball there’s a little bit here and there but not too much at the moment.
“At the moment it feels like they’re easing me into it, they’re helping me become part of the group.”
Smith is yet to cop one of Bellamy’s infamous sprays, but the Mascot junior is getting ready as best he can - because everyone wears one sooner or later.
“I definitely am. I’m getting myself ready, I’ve been asking the boys what to do and how to avoid it. I think one day everyone gets it,” Smith said.
“He’s (Bellamy’s) been pretty good. I heard from him a few times through the holidays, we touched base three or four times, it’s made me feel comfortable.
“But the other side is when it comes to training you have to execute your stuff, you have to put effort on effort, he’ll get into you about that kind of stuff. It keeps me accountable and makes me work hard.”
SUPERSTAR STUCK IN SYDNEY AFTER BORDER CLOSURE
-Travis Meyn
Storm star Josh Addo-Carr is stuck in Sydney, with Victoria’s border ban stopping the NSW Origin gun from fronting for Melbourne pre-season training.
“The Fox” is trapped in the Harbour City after spending his Christmas break in Sydney and failing to escape before Victoria closed its border to NSW.
Addo-Carr is one of 3500 Victorians unable to return home and is facing a 14-day quarantine order if he crosses the border, thanks to the increasing concerns over COVID-19.
The reigning premiers began their 2021 pre-season preparations on Monday, with only Addo-Carr and Queensland Origin star Cameron Munster not in attendance.
Munster is still on leave after his lengthy season and is expected back in Melbourne over the weekend before the Storm head off on their annual pre-season camp in Geelong.
But it appears unlikely Addo-Carr will make the camp, with the Storm attempting to secure a government exemption for their most lethal try-scoring weapon to come back to Melbourne.
Even if Addo-Carr is allowed back into Victoria he will likely be forced into quarantine and not join Storm training for some time.
The 2021 NRL season will be Addo-Carr’s last with the Storm before he takes up a four-year contract with Canterbury.
Addo-Carr, 25, has long held a desire to return to Sydney for family reasons and he opted to remain in the city for Christmas despite warnings he may not be able to return to Melbourne.
A number of Storm players were caught up in the border rush after Victoria opted to close its border to NSW on December 20.
Captaincy contender Dale Finucane made an eleventh-hour dash for Victoria, sleeping in his car overnight after leaving his home town of Bega shortly before the closure.
Halfback recruit Jonah Pezet was stranded in the border town of Wodonga when his car broke down during the trip from Newcastle.
One player to make an enormous sacrifice is Parramatta recruit George Jennings.
Jennings, 27, decided to leave Sydney and his heavily pregnant partner days before Christmas to ensure he was available for training at his new club.
“George and the others made an incredible sacrifice a couple of days before Christmas when the borders shut,” said Storm football chief Frank Ponissi.
“A lot of these new players have come from greater Sydney and had to make a decision to leave before Christmas and not spend it with their families.
“They were supposed to come down in early January. For them to make those sacrifices is enormous and we’re really appreciative.
“George has got a pregnant partner so that wasn’t easy for her and him to leave his partner. She is only a month away from expecting their first child.
“George and the other players that have come down from Sydney have been training together the last few weeks. That’s made his adjustment a bit easier.”
More Coverage
Originally published as NRL 2021: Reimis Smith stars in Melbourne, Josh Addo-Carr stuck in Sydney
‘Blowhard’: Cornes backlash turns prickly
Kane Cornes has been roasted by a high profile colleague over comments that have left NRL commentators in disbelief.
Parramatta legend: ‘24 Panthers don’t have a hope against ‘83 Eels
Penrith have claimed their place in the rugby league record books, but Parramatta great Ray Price has rejected suggestions they’ve gone past his Eels, claiming they had “every position and we every tactic covered”. WHO IS BETTER? VOTE NOW.