The Melbourne Storm are known for their excellence in recruiting the right players for the club.
Countless players have arrived in Melbourne and turned their careers around under Craig Bellamy, while the same can't be said of players leaving Melbourne.
Players like Brenko Lee and Dale Finucane made themselves State of Origin players in the Melbourne system, while players on the way out like Kevin Proctor have never been able to hit the same heights they achieved in the Storm system.
So, when the Storm make a recruitment decision, it makes fans sit up and take notice.
A News Corp report now suggests the Storm are on the verge of signing New Zealand rugby sevens star Will Warbrick.
This now seems all but confirmed, with News Hub Sport's Luke Robinson stating the deal is done for Warbrick to join the Storm.
I can confirm rising @AllBlacks7s star William Warbrick HAS signed a deal with @storm - exclusive details including reaction from the club and hear from Warbrick about why he left sevens and his goals in the NRL - tonight on @NewshubSport @FOXNRL pic.twitter.com/p8lnUB0qri
— Luke Robinson (@whakataneluke) November 3, 2021
The 23-year-old, who was born in Kawerau - located in the Bay of Plenty outside Auckland - made his debut for the New Zealand team in 2019 and won a silver medal at the 2020 (played in 2021) Tokyo Olympics.
He checks in at 193cm and 100 kilograms, and has pace to burn, with the Storm believing he could be an ideal candidate to play on the wing in the 13-man game.
It's understood he has been identified as a potential replacement for Josh Addo-Carr. That comes as a surprise in itself, given the club signed Xavier Coates from the Melbourne Storm as seemingly a long-term option on the wing.
The tall Papua New Guinean was dropped by Broncos' coach Kevin Walters in his final months with the Red Hill-based club, however, there is a train of thought which suggests he could become one of the best wingers in the competition if he can improve defensively under Bellamy.
The Storm have also signed Nick Meaney from the Canterbury Bulldogs, with the talented youngster possessing plenty in his own game which will leave him fighting for a spot in 2022.
Add that to the Storm's current wing depth in Victorian Dean Ieremia and heavy-hitter Isaac Lumelume, and the fact they are still looking for an Addo-Carr replacement could raise eyebrows.
Still, the Olympic silver-medalist could be something of a game-changer given his size, and while a contract of any description is yet to be signed or confirmed, he wouldn't be the first to jump codes between rugby union and league.
