Its been two seasons in the making but Melbourne are ready to reap the rewards of recruiting a power forward pack.Storm skipper Cameron Smith went to club officials at the end of 2014 requesting they add some size to help the likes of emerging star prop Jesse Bromwich.Smith believed that the best NRL teams had the biggest packs, who took the sting out of the defence and opened up opportunities for the playmakers.Along with youngsters already at the club like Jordan McLean, the result is that the Storm now boast one of the most formidable packs in the NRL.Nelson Asofa-Solomona stands 200cm and 115kg, Bromwich, is 194cm and 114kg, while McLean is 196cm and 115kg.With the exception of Smith, all of the Storm forwards weigh in at over 100kg with former Bulldog Dale Finucane the lightest at 102kg.McLean said increase in size had boosted the teams confidence.Its definitely more confidence that you take in with having bigger players beside you, McLean said.The 24-year-old said the Storm bench had the same standards as the starters, which had made the transition seamless this season.We spoke in the pre-season about not letting the standards drop once the starting front-rowers are off the field, so I dont really think you can tell the difference between the starting and the bench players at the moment.McLean said Bromwich, as the competitions best forward, had set a benchmark for his teammates.He said he had tried to add some more skills to his own game.I suppose playing alongside Jesse, hes got a lot of the ability.Ive tried to do a few little things at training just so Im not a one-dimensional, old-school front-rower running straight and them picking me off straight away. So Ive got to try to give myself something.McLeans game in the Storms qualifying win over North Queensland had commentators talking him up as a Kangaroos bolter.Having so far only played for Country, McLean wasnt getting too far ahead of himself.I dont dream too far ahead, but if I ever got the chance Id stick my hand up for it, he said.For the time being its just for the Storm and the week ahead.SIZE MATTERS:-Height and weight of the Storm forwards:Nelson Asofa-Solomona - 200cm, 115kgJesse Bromwich - 194cm, 114kgMatt White - 196cm, 113kgJordan McLean - 196cm , 115kgTohu Harris - 195cm, 112kgDale Finucane - 188cm, 102kgKenny Bromwich - 183cm, 105kgTim Glasby - 188cm, 104kgFelice Kaufusi - 189cm, 109kgKevin Proctor - 189cm, 105kgChristian Welch - 188cm, 105kg.
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Larry Csonka Womens Jersey .C. - The Carolina Hurricanes have placed backup goalie Anton Khudobin on injured reserve with an unspecified lower-body injury. Socceroo Tim Cahill has made his first senior club appearance in Australian football, coming on as 64th-minute substitute in Melbourne Citys 2-1 victory over Brisbane Strikers in the FFA Cup round of 16.The 36-year-old, who drew a sellout 3571 crowd on Wednesday night to Perry Park in Brisbane, entered the fray to a rapturous ovation with the scores level at 1-1.Playing just behind striker Bruno Fornaroli, Cahill had his own effort on goal blocked in the 73rd minute before putting his hand up to take a penalty that came four minutes later, but skipper Fornaroli waved him away before netting his second spot-kick of the night.The Strikers opened the scoring in the 34th minute when unmarked centre-back Greig Henslee turned home Hiroki Omoris inswinging free-kick from six metres out.The National Premier League Queensland winners were full value for the lead after goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen had being called on to make stops from Omori and Rhys Meredith.Three minutes after his goal, Henslee undid his good work by chopping down Nick Fitzgerald in the penalty area to concede in the box and Fornaroli hit his penalty to the left of Sebastian Usais outstretched arm.The second spot-kick was almost a carbon copy of the first with Bruce Kamau this time goal-bound before Jake Marshall, who had blocked Cahills effort minutes earlier, rashly brought down the winger.Last years A-League top scorer Fornaroli blasted the penalty down the middle of the goal to put his side through to the last eight.Although relieved at making the quarter finals, Citys defence will have worried John van t Schip with balls played over the top of their defence consistently, causing difficulty throughout the night.ddddddddddddIt is no surprise City are likely to sign a defender as a marquee player before the A-League season starts in October.Cahill played his part as an ambassador, signing numerous autographs before and after the match for the record crowd, the first of many contributions back following his part-FFA-funded estimated $4 million two-year deal with City.It felt like I was starting my career again, Cahill said.I began my career playing in grounds like this.These guys were up for it; they can be proud at what they achieved - and so can City. It was a really good effort and (they are) a good footballing team.This is amazing, its really good for this place and Im really happy for them.This is what its all about to come to places like this and help fill the ground up and contribute for 30 minutes is nice. Obviously, Id have liked to contribute a bit more on the pitch, but Ive got a few games coming up with the Socceroos being involved in and well see what happens with that, Cahill said.Coach van t Schip said he was confident Cahill and Fornaroli would soon form a fine partnership, although he admitted it was not ideal that his new signing would spend a fortnight with the Socceroos before the start of the season.It would be nice to have them together (for all of pre-season), but theyre both smart players and theyll work it out together, van t Schip said. ' ' '
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