NRL has a big decision to make Is there a place for giants in the game

July 29, 2021 â€" 5.13amImmortal Kombat

I think the game has a really big decision to make at the end of the year: do we want almost every player on the field to be between 180cm and 185cm tall, and about 100kg, or is the really big man still relevant in the modern game?

It’s been on my mind a lot lately and I’m an advocate for a think tank with the smartest minds in the game to sort it out. What sort of game do we really want?

We’re always going to have the genetic freaks like Payne Haas and Nelson Asofa-Solomona, but I’m starting to think we’ve just about gone away from those massive men who have always been part of our sport.

I’ll give you an example of one player who has caught my eye of late. Bulldogs forward Luke Thompson can get to top speed after three or four metres, he’s only a touch over six foot tall (183cm) and weighs in at just 102kg. He’s not built like your traditional prop, but he’s really excelling under the game we have created. It’s been sped right up and it’s suiting him down to the ground.

If you’re trying to find the best go-forward man with the quickest play-the-ball then you naturally look at Cameron Murray. He has a low centre of gravity, great footwork and a big motor. Victor Radley is one of the best locks in the game and he’s 92kg. There’s a real pattern developing.

But perhaps the best example of how the game has completely changed is the way Ricky Stuart has helped reinvigorate the Raiders. He’s using Josh Hodgson and Tom Starling on the field at the same time and because the Raiders have that speed and footwork they can carry smaller guys through the middle.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona is a rare breed in the NRL.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

I think it’s a huge consideration for the game at the end of the year: do we still want the really big man to be a part of our game?

GOAT expectations

Without doubt, I think Craig Bellamy is the best coach of all time.

It’s huge news he’s staying at the Storm for another five years. He might only coach for another two, but he’ll have his fingerprints all over the club for the three years after that with how the team plays.

He’s taken them to eight grand finals and they’ve made the finals every single year he’s been head coach since 2003 â€" except for 2010 when they lost their points for cheating the salary cap.

The best thing about Bellamy in recent years is the way the Storm has evolved and changed their attack despite a bunch of generational players leaving their system. Israel Folau left and they got on with it. Greg Inglis left and they got on with it. Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk, same deal. And then the big one in Cameron Smith â€" and look what they’re doing now.

When other clubs have a champion retire in a key position, they struggle, but Melbourne have gone from a super-structured team when Smith, Slater and Cronk were playing to one that has so much attacking brilliance and strike.

But the biggest thing is they’ve never lost their DNA: tough, hard-working defence.

It’s incredible how Bellamy improves players who were on the scrap heap, especially front-rowers. Look at Bryan Norrie, Tui Kamikamica and Tim Glasby. If Christian Welch was at another club, would he have turned into the Origin player he is? Their outside backs Josh Addo-Carr and Reimis Smith are other examples. Jahrome Hughes couldn’t get a crack at the Cowboys or Titans. I could go on and on.

Craig Bellamy has signed a five-year deal to stay at the Storm.Credit:NRL Photos

He’s incredibly hard working and his attention to detail in the way they play, especially defence, is incredible. He trains them so hard, but unlike other clubs who get flogged, you never hear his players whingeing. He’s always looking for that edge and part of that was the manipulation of wrestling, but they did it the best.

The biggest compliment for Bellamy is every other club is trying to copy them; the way they play, the coaches they try to poach. Think of all the coaches who have been under Bellamy: Brad Arthur, Michael Maguire, Adam O’Brien, Kevin Walters, Stephen Kearney, Anthony Seibold. Other than Maguire, the others haven’t had that great success like Bellamy has.

For me, he’s the best coach we’ve ever had.

In the eye of the Storm

To put it simply, the Storm will win the grand final rematch and win well. When I look at Penrith, they’re starting to get the wobbles in terms of injuries six weeks out from the finals.

There’s no Nathan Cleary, who is their general, and also no Isaah Yeo, who is just behind Nathan in terms of importance to Penrith. He plays that link role, which gets his other big men around the field. He’s the bridge between the hooker and halves, and he does it so effectively.

Then there’s no Brian To’o, who is their best go-forward man off kick reception, and no James Fisher-Harris, who is their intimidator and main metre man. The last two weeks they’ve only beaten the Broncos by six points and Warriors by 14.

If they get their troops back, they are still a chance at the end of the year but, if they are to trouble Melbourne, they need their best 17 fit and firing.

This week the Storm have Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, Dale Finucane and Felise Kaufusi back, while Ryan Papenhuyzen is second up from a spell. It will be fine weather in Brisbane; a fast track with no dew on the ground. I think the Storm will win by 20 to 30 points.

What does a big loss do psychologically for Penrith?

I don’t think it scars them at all. At full strength, they will know they can beat the Storm. They beat them in round three. But the boost of Bellamy staying in Melbourne cannot be underestimated. It all points to a big Storm win.

Joey’s tip: Storm by 20-plus.
First try-scorer: Justin Olam.
Man of the match: Cameron Munster.

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Andrew Johns is an Immortal, a Newcastle great and a commentator for Channel Nine

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