Jordan McLean takes on future teammates in grand final

JORDAN McLean will either be the only player at North Queensland next year with a 2017 premiership ring — or he will be the odd man out in a dressingroom full of bling.

Jordan McLean of the Melbourne Storm.

JORDAN McLean will either be the only player at North Queensland next year with a 2017 premiership ring — or he will be the odd man out.

The Melbourne man mountain will link with the Cowboys on a three-year $2 million deal from next season, but will first try to trample his future teammates in Sunday’s NRL grand final.

With front-row leaders Matt Scott and Scott Bolton in the twilight of their careers, Cowboys officials signed McLean in March and have been rapt with his progression this season.

McLean, who was 18th man for the NSW Origin team this year, was impressed with his future employers’ form this season without Scott and Johnathan Thurston, but declared there was no room for sentimentality in the middle of ANZ Stadium.

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Jordan McLean takes on his future club in the grand final.

It will be an extra special moment for the 25-year-old and his good mate, Cowboys utility Ben Hampton. The pair lived together in Melbourne and Hampton is the godfather to McLean’s two-year-old son Archie.

“We are good mates, but for 80 minutes we won’t talk to each other, he’ll be going hard for the Cowboys and I’ll be going hard for the Storm. We’ll shake hands afterwards and have a beer together,’’ McLean said.

“I have a young family, my mum lives in north Queensland, as do my partner’s family, so that was one of the deciding factors.

“It was always going to be tough leaving here. I’ve come through the under-20s system, I have a lot of good mates here, and I’ve been through some tough times and good times.

“I’ve trained hard all year, we’re now in a good position, do my focus for now is on Sunday and the Melbourne Storm.’’

Jordan McLean is crucial to the Storm’s chances.

At 196cm, McLean makes up part of a menacing Storm pack alongside 200cm teammate Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

Bolton has emerged as the saviour for the Cowboys who lost James Tamou to Penrith, had Ben Hannant retire before the season started, then lost Scott to a knee injury in round two.

“He has been incredible for us, we needed him to stand up and deliver for us this year, and he’s done that in spades,’’ Cowboys general manager of football Peter Parr said.

“We were concerned once Tamou left we would be stretched in the middle of the field if we had some injuries. When Matt Scott was injured, that’s when we worried.

“But Scott has been incredible, we signed Shaun Fensom before the start of the season and he’s been terrific Jason Taumalolo has been fantastic, and John Asiata is another one.’’