Melbourne star recruiter helping prepare for life without Big Three

A ONE-TIME talent scout for Wayne Bennett has emerged as the mystery man responsible for delivering some of the biggest young stars to the Storm.

Melbourne Storm's flying wingers Suliasi Vunivalu and Josh Addo-Carr ahead of this week's NRL Grand Final. Picture: Mark Stewart

A FORMER talent scout for Wayne Bennett has emerged as the man responsible for delivering some of the biggest young stars to Melbourne, including Cameron Munster, Curtis Scott, Josh Addo-Carr and Suliasi Vunivalu.

Paul Bunn, 57, who worked with Bennett at the Broncos for 16 years, will on Saturday arrive in Sydney to join the Storm team he’s played a huge role in assembling.

The 57-year-old is facing one of the biggest challenges in the game — building the Storm’s generation next preparing for life without Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater.

Bunn did not to want to take credit when approached about this story, but was grateful he had the full backing of coach Craig Bellamy, football manager Frank Ponissi and CEO Dave Donaghy, who said of Bunn “he’s in career-best form”.

Munster has been a revelation at the Storm. Bunn heard about the five-eighth from three old mates who convinced him to hop on a plane to Melbourne to meet with Craig Bellamy and Cameron Smith, then later sign a $5000 deal.

LOCKYER: The Storm can be beaten

DECIDER: Grand final form guide

Melbourne Storm's flying wingers Suliasi Vunivalu and Josh Addo-Carr ahead of this week's NRL Grand Final. Picture: Mark Stewart

Bunn watched Vunivalu carve up in a rugby game in Fiji, only to return a month later and realise the winger had left for boarding school in New Zealand.

It was only during a chance conversation with former Storm winger Matt Duffie that he was able to track down Vunivalu a second time and convince him to sign with Melbourne.

Bunn first laid eyes on Scott as a 17-year-old playing SG Ball for Cronulla in a game against Parramatta, while Addo-Carr’s deal was struck the night before he debuted for the Wests Tigers last year.

“Josh had pure speed and the ability to break the line and score a try whenever he felt like it,’’ Bunn told The Saturday Telegraph.

“We tracked him into the NSW Cup where he scored 19 tries, and we had tried to sign him for last year, but we ran out of money in pour second-tier budget.

“I remember flying up to Sydney last year, we met him and his girlfriend Lakaree, who is related to Greg Inglis, who told them, ‘pack your bags and get down there straight away’.

“The deal was struck that night. The following day him and Suli scored with their first touches at Leichhardt Oval.’’

One person Bunn contacted as a character reference for Addo-Carr was Scott, who played along side at Cronulla.

Curtis Scott celebrates a try. Pic: Michael Klein

Scott had no shortage of clubs lining up for his signature, and Bunn was grateful to win the race for the kid who stood out because of his aggression and tall, lean build.

During a two-night trip to Melbourne while being wooed, Scott and Bunn enjoyed some time at the wonderfully-named restaurant Leonard’s House Of Love, then had Billy Slater get in his ear during a Storm game the following night.

When it came to Vunivalu, Bunn feared he might not see him again when he returned to Fiji to speak with him, but was told the 16-year-old had shifted to Auckland to continue playing rugby,

He spoke with Duffie who later found out there had been a new Fijian join his old high school, Saint Kentigern College, and it was Vunivalu.

He did not come cheap given the intense interest in the teenager, but Vunivalu quickly repaid the faith with more than 40 tries in his opening two seasons.

Munster was identified by Paul Grant and scouts Paul Minto and Terry Hansen in central Queensland’s Bunn’s old stomping ground.

Cameron Munster makes a line break against the Storm.

He flew to Brisbane to watch him play a Queensland Cup game for the Central Capras against Easts, and wasted no time getting him on a plane down south.

There had been zero interest from rival clubs. By the time Munster became a YouTube sensation a few months later after a classy 100m try for the Capras, the phone started to ring, but Bunn had his man.

Even Cronk’s halfback replacement, Brodie Croft, was another discovered by Bunn at just 15.

Originally published as Melbourne star recruiter helping prepare for life without Big Three