NRL 2023: Why Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s Storm teammates wouldn’t be surprised to see him a Wallabies jersey in 2024

Melbourne Storm are facing an uphill battle to keep two of its stars at the club long term with not only rival NRL clubs circling, but a rival code.

Joel Selwood. Pic: Michael Klein

Superstar Melbourne duo Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes fear the Storm could be facing an uphill battle to keep boom rookie Sua Fa’alogo and powerhouse prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona in purple.

Off contact, Asofa-Solomona is entertaining the option of switching codes, while ‘freakish’ fullback talent Fa’alogo, who is destined for NRL stardom, is poised to bide his time behind Ryan Papenhuyzen, who is locked in for the next three seasons.

In a wide-ranging interview with the halves duo, have their say on the latest contract developments and team selections ahead of round one against the Eels.

NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA

New Australian coach Eddie Jones has Asofa-Solomona on a hit list of players he thinks can lead a Wallabies revival.

The Storm forward, who started out playing rugby for Wellington College and is eligible for the All Blacks hinted at a switch earlier this month.

And Hughes believes Jones is every chance of getting his man.

“Nah, I wouldn’t be surprised,” Hughes said when asked if Asofa-Solomona would defect to rugby.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona is entertaining a switch to rugby.

“He started in rugby and Melbourne poached him. But he’s always wanted to go back to rugby, I don’t know if the timing is right for him but it’s a dream of his to play rugby professionally. Obviously, I don’t want to lose him because we’ve lost a lot of experience in the forwards and need him more than ever.”

SUA FA’ALOGO

Fa’alogo is a rare commodity in rugby league, a Victorian junior. Storm fans got a glimpse of the 19- year old’s potential in week one of the trials but so did rival NRL clubs.

Fa’alogo is signed until 2024 with his sights squarely set on playing regular footy at fullback.

Munster is hoping the rising no. 1 can put aside the itchy feet and bide his time behind Papenhuyzen.

“Hopefully we can keep him. I know there will be some teams after him that’s for sure,” Munster said.

“Sua is a freak with x-factor, when he has the ball in his hands, it gets your attention. That’s what you want as a fullback.

“He reminds me of Kalyn Ponga, he can snap ankles from anywhere. He’s special. I know he wants to play fullback but I hope he makes the right decision and stays here long term.”

WILL WARBRICK

An Olympic Rugby Sevens silver medallist, Warbrick has yet to earn his NRL debut, until now. Two powerful performances in the trials from the rugby convert, who is in his second season at Melbourne, are set to relegate George Jennings and Dean Ieremia to reserve grade.

“From the way he played on the weekend, he should be there. if I was a betting man, I would say it will be Xavier Coates and Will as the wingers in round one,” Munster said.

“Now we have two tall timbers, good in the air, on the wing. It’s nice to know on the fifth tackle they’ll be there to use.”

Will Warbrick has impressed at the Storm. Picture: Brad Fleet

CAPTAINCY

Two weeks ago Munster put his hand up to take over as captain after the exit of long-term skipper Jesse Bromwich to the Dolphins.

The bold declaration came 16 months after he was booted from the leadership group following the white-powder scandal.

But Munster has had an about face over the captaincy armband.

“It sounds nice and pretty having the captaincy on my name but I still have a long way to go,” Munster said.

“I have aspirations to be a captain at Storm but at this stage I have only just been pushed into a leadership group after being kicked out of it. I want to be there longer before taking it on.

Munster says he has a ways to go before being ready to captain the side.

BOOZE BAN

Melbourne officials imposed an alcohol ban on Munster in season 2022 in the wake of the white-powder scandal, which threatened to end his Storm career.

Munster was undecided in the pre-season if that ban would become a self-imposed one, until now.

“Round one, I’m ready to go again. It shows how good my footy was going when I was off it. It is going a lot harder, I had a carrot hanging over my head because of what I did before. Now it’s on my terms, before I had to live by the club’s rule, not to do it. Now, it’s my call.

WHO HITS HARDER? SELWOOD’S SURPRISE NRL ADMISSION

When it comes to running and fitness, Joel Selwood reckons he would have most Melbourne Storm players covered – just don’t ask him to take a hit-up or make a tackle.

Selwood, the Geelong Cats legend and Melbourne’s new leadership coach, got his first taste of the Storm’s notorious gruelling pre-seasons under coach Craig Bellamy over the summer.

Melbourne have traditionally employed army-style camps designed to build resilience through breaking down players mentally and physically.

Like the ‘I don’t quit’ camp where players are forced into endless hours of army beach crawls and lugging jerry cans all under the duress of sleep deprivation.

But it was what happened on the training field that made Selwood shudder the most.

“I probably would have been okay with the running. It’s just the contact and the big hits and the sprint work is not something I am interested in,” Selwood said.

“Honestly, I was surprised with how hard they hit each other, even in November.

“When I first got a chance to look at training, it’s obviously a high contact sport where they are running hard at each other.

“But some of the knocks at that stage of the year is something I’m not accustomed to.”

Joel Selwood is enjoying his new role at the Storm.

Selwood in the sheds before a pre-season hitout. Picture: Michael Klein.

After four premierships and an illustrious career spanning over 16 years, boasting the record for the most finals appearances and most games as a club captain, Selwood hung up his boots shortly after leading the Cats to the 2022 flag.

But instead of kicking his feet up in retirement, Selwood has joined forces with Storm as the club’s leadership coach.

Widely considered one of the greatest captains in AFL history, Selwood’s appointment is a timely one for the Storm.

When captain Jesse Bromwich, Kenny Bromwich, Felise Kaufusi joined the Dolphins, and Brandon Smith linked with the Sydney Roosters, almost 800 games of NRL experience also walked out the door.

Selwood’s job is to help rebuild the club’s leadership group and mould the next generation of Storm leaders.

Joel Selwood and Ryan Papenhuyzen before Sunday’s trial match. Pic: Michael Klein

Selwood says he’s been surprised by the physicality of the NRL pre-season.

Melbourne fans will get their first glimpse of Selwood’s contribution to the side when a number of captaincy contenders take the field against the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday.

Selwood has worked closely in the pre-season with the likes of five-eighth Cameron Munster, halfback Jahrome Hughes and veteran forward Christian Welsh.

Sunday’s clash in Christchurch will also be more than an opportunity for Craig Bellamy to decide on his captain for the upcoming NRL season.

The coach also has a number of selection decisions to make ahead of the Storm’s season opener against 2022 grand finalists Parramatta at Commbank Stadium on March 2.

Centre Justin Olam suffered a broken arm in the first week of the NRL trials against the Sydney Roosters and will miss at least six weeks.

Bellamy has named Young Tonumaipea as Olam’s replacement, but the likes of Grant Anderson and Dean Ieremia are also in contention for the same centre spot.

Star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen will miss at least the first two months of the season with a knee injury, with Bellamy again leaning on versatile outside back Nick Meaney to wear the no. 1 jumper in his absence.

Originally published as NRL 2023: Why Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s Storm teammates wouldn’t be surprised to see him a Wallabies jersey in 2024