Busted nose and bloodied boots: The electrician with a giant job for Melbourne Storm
By Roy Ward
With a swollen nose and dried blood on his boots, Josh King showed why he is straight out of Melbourne Storm central casting.
A former mining electrician, the Storm prop appeared at the team’s grand final session at AAMI Park on Monday still sporting the evidence of the blow that busted his nose in Melbourne’s preliminary final win over the Sydney Roosters.
Josh King plays on as blood runs from his nose in the NRL preliminary final.Credit: Getty Images
King is Storm’s starting prop, and his role in the side was cited by commentators and critics at the start of the year as the reason that Melbourne could not win this year’s premiership. Instead, he has been a key driver of the team’s return to the season decider, meeting the mental and physical demands of coach Craig Bellamy. Wearing blood-spattered boots just illustrated it.
“There’s some cartilage damage … but she’s sore,” King said.
“Whatever it takes, it doesn’t really bother me.”
King and his fellow forwards will have arguably the toughest task at Accor Stadium on Sunday night: To beat a powerful, more accomplished Panthers pack who have led their club to three straight premierships and five straight grand final appearances.
King and Trent Loiero (who has made the lock position his own this season) have played every game before being held out of the second-last round to rest for the finals.
They don’t have big names or reputations in the NRL, but they have set a standard that Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Tui Kamikamica, Alec MacDonald and Christian Welch all follow at Storm, as do second-rowers Eli Katoa and Shawn Blore.
“They [King and Loiero] probably don’t get too many wraps outside the club, but they get plenty of wraps here,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.
“They always feature in our ‘dos, not the don’ts’ (feedback).
“They are hard workers, not flashy players, but they are tough physically and mentally – they just keep turning up each week, and we know what you will get from them. That is a real great trait to have.”
Asofa-Solomona is suspended for Sunday’s decider, which takes away the side’s biggest prop and best ball-runner. But the Storm have a 5-2 win-loss record without him this season, including their win over Penrith in round one.
When it comes to Storm players, King’s story fits the bill.
“Every time you lay your head down on the bed, you dream about those sorts of things.”
Josh King on Sunday night’s NRL grand final
The 28-year-old completed his mining electrician apprenticeship in his home town of Singleton while coming through the ranks at the Newcastle Knights.
King (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring a try in August.Credit: Getty Images
He couldn’t nail a consistent spot over six seasons in Newcastle before the Storm came calling in 2021.
And King admits he still struggles with his confidence, despite playing almost every possible game since 2022.
He arrived hoping for “three to five games” that season, but ended with 25 after winning over Bellamy and stalwarts like then captain Jesse Bromwich.
“That was the first time I was like, ‘Oh, God, maybe I am half a crack here’,” King recalled.
Trent Loiero of the Storm hugs Nelson Asofa-Solomona (No.8) after their club’s preliminary final win.Credit: Getty Images
But, remarkably, King thinks he would struggle for a game at other clubs. “I’ve still got to pinch myself every day. It’s still really surreal for me,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say that I’m really good. I fit into this team and I fit into the role I play, but I could go to other clubs now and I probably wouldn’t get a look in, or even be in the squad.
“It is all about perspective about where you are and the role you play.”
King is in the Storm’s leadership group and has become a mentor to younger men like MacDonald. One of his main messages is don’t be too hard on yourself.
“I’m still like that sometime – you are always your own biggest critic and analyse things too much, but I’m getting better with age,” King said.
“It’s easy to say it, but when you get in the moment, sometimes you can be a bit negative with yourself, but being consistent week in, week out has given me the ability to brush things off a bit.”
King admits he can’t help but imagine what it might be like to become an NRL premiership player, but he has 80 minutes of pain against the Panthers to come first.
“Every time you lay your head down on the bed, you dream about those sorts of things,” King said.
“It would be an unreal feeling I’m sure, but there is still some work to go and I just want to take this week for everything it has to offer.”
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