The Melbourne Storm head into the 2024 NRL season with what many consider a good problem to have with three players battling it out for the fullback position.
After the emergence of 20-year-old Sualauvi Faalogo, coach Craig Bellamy now has a selection headache with Ryan Papenhuyzen and Nick Meaney already fighting it out for the fullback spot.
If fit, Papenhuyzen looks to be heavy favourite for the number one jersey with Meaney sliding into the centres potentially alongside Faalogo.
AAP reporter Joel Gould weighed in the on the selection conundrum and recalled the last Bellamy had to make a tough call at the back of the field.
“That’s the beauty of it, remember when Ryan Papenhuyzen came onto the scene there was a similar dilemma for the Melbourne Storm,” Gould told SEN 1170 Mornings.
“Things just panned out in a certain way and they just found a way for him to play fullback… for Craig Bellamy this is a beautiful dilemma to have.
“Let’s face it, Papenhuyzen and Faalogo to me are, at their best can be match winners in finals football, Nick Meaney is a very good footballer.
“I’d be looking to get all three of them in somehow.”
Gould opened up on Faalogo’s future at the Storm and the club’s immediate plans to extend his stay in Melbourne.
“Faalogo has an option in the Storm’s favour for 2025, I did speak to (Storm recruitment manager) Paul Bunn after his great performance against Broncos,” Gould added.
“The Melbourne Storm are going to take that up and I’m sure (they) will do everything to keep him there for as long as they can.”
Faalogo is expected to lineup at fullback once again for Samoa this Saturday night against New Zealand, whilst Papenhuyzen continues his rehab from a leg break.