Falcons played a key role in Storm centre’s development

Justin Olam signed a new deal with the Storm.

AT TRAINING: Josh Addo-Carr is seen with Justin Olam during an NRL Storm training session at AAMI Park in Melbourne last week. Picture: AAP Image/Michael Dodge.

MULTI SPORT: Normally I wouldn’t do this but felt like I should make comment about the great story about Melbourne Storm’s Justin Olam published this week.

If you missed it, it was about him signing a new deal with the Storm and there was some really nice photos of the robust centre in his PNG Hunters jersey in 2016 and some shots of him in action for the Storm plus a photo of him in his Kumul gear with some PNG fans – all great stuff.

The Falcons were briefly mentioned in the heartwarming story of his success but in my view they have played a much larger role than stated, in where Justin was and where he is now.

I would have loved to have seen a photo of him in a Falcons jersey but that’s me being a touch precious.

Justin has played 50 games for the Falcons from 2017 and scored 36 tries and has been a crowd favourite every time he pulls on a Falcons jersey.

TRY TIME: Falcons' Justin Olam in action between the Redcliffe Dolphins and the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Intrust Super Cup in 2017. Picture: AAP Photo/Josh Woning.

I have plenty of favourite Olam moments but one was unique.

He was coming back from injury so the Storm staff sent a message to say he could only play half a game and it was against his old team the Hunters. They didn’t care which half but only 40 minutes. So coach Trigger (Craig Ingebrigtsen) played him in the first half and he ran 227m and he scored two tries, gave his old teammates a clinic and set up a really good win.

After half time he came out of the sheds and this sums the bloke up, he is so polite, he asked me if it would it be all right to go and sit on the hill with some of the Hunters supporters. I told him after what he had just done he could do whatever he wanted.

So my point is that the Falcons club, coaching staff and senior players played a pretty big part in Justin’s development, which makes it all the more worthwhile but also highlights why the NRL needs a second tier competition because it gives players time to develop rather than being thrown on the scrap heap if they don’t reach expectations within a given period.

Still on my NRL soapbox, there has been hardly any mention from anyone in the NRL or media re grassroots and the game as a whole.

READ: The Melbourne Storm young gun, who is tipped to be a superstar.

Well I am glad to see at least in cricket someone is thinking below the top line.

Former Australian cricketer Stuart Clark made comment re Cricket Australia cost cutting, and warned these cuts would have long-lasting ramifications on junior and grassroots programs.

“By cutting further, it won’t be felt in the next year or two, but it might be felt in 10 years’ time,” Clark told ABC News.

“All they’re really concerned about is having the next Australian player, whereas there’s a whole heap of levels of cricket that need to be filled with people that actually have skills that are learnt at a junior age.

“Cricket needs to adapt to manage impacts that have already occurred, while preparing for changes necessary in a time of uncertainty.”

Hopefully someone from rugby league takes note?

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