Craig Bellamy has touched on the influence of Billy Slater and the NRL‘s new six-again rule change after tipping young gun Sua Fa’alogo to be Melbourne’s fullback “for a long time”. Storm’s livewire No.1 was a standout in Saturday’s come-from-behind 46-20 victory over the Dragons in Wollongong, scoring a hat-trick to lead Melbourne to back-to-back wins to begin the new season.

Many questions around the Storm in pre-season centred around how Bellamy’s side would cope without Ryan Papenhuyzen in 2026 after the fullback’s shock retirement last year. But in his first two games since succeeding Papenhuyzen in the No.1 jersey, Fa’alogo has shown Melbourne fans they’re in good hands.

Billy Slater’s (L) influence and the NRL’s six-again rule change has been credited with Melbourne Storm star Sua Fa’alogo’s (R) incredible start to the NRL season. Pic: Getty

All three of his tries on Saturday showcased the electric footwork and acceleration that have made the 22-year-old one of the most exciting prospects in the game. And they all came in a devastating 12-minute spell in the second half against an increasingly tiring Dragons defence, to fuel fresh debate about the six-again rule change leading to blow-outs on the scoreboard.

The NRL changed the rule this year to extend the zone where referees can call six-again infringements. And it has resulted in an even faster tempo of the game, with plenty of points so far across the opening two rounds coming off the back of teams getting repeat sets.

And Bellamy admitted after the game that it is tailor-made for players like Fa’alogo with speed to burn, who can punish weary defences. But the Storm coach pointed out that the heroics of Fa’alogo – who now has five tries in his first two games of the season – came off the back of plenty of hard work in an impressive pre-season for the young gun.

“He’s got talent and he’s been touched with the speed brush. He has convinced me with his pre-season that he is willing to put the hard work in,” Bellamy said. “Last year I reckon I would have beat him in the pre-season.

“With these six-agains, there seems to be a lot more fatigue in the game. If he can stay reasonably unfatigued I think he can do some damage.”

League great Greg Alexander said he’d seen enough to be convinced Melbourne had found the perfect successor to Papenhuyzen. “Well, the new era has dawned, hasn’t it, for the Melbourne Storm in terms of their No.1s?” Alexander said on Fox League.

Sua Faalogo destroyed the Dragons with a hat-trick of tries to inspire the Melbourne Storm to back-to-back wins to begin the NRL season. Pic: Getty

(Mark Nolan via Getty Images)

Sua Fa’alogo under the expert tutelage of Billy Slater

Bellamy ने फा’अलोगो के खेल पर लेजेंड्री स्टॉर्म फुलबैक बिल स्लेर के प्रभाव को श्रेय दिया। मारून कोच ने स्टॉर्म नंबर 1 के साथ मिलकर काम किया है, और बेलैमी का मानना ​​है कि 22 वर्षीय खिलाड़ी क्लब में एक शानदार भविष्य के लिए अच्छी तरह से तैयार है।

“मुझे कोई संदेह नहीं है कि वह लंबे समय तक हमारे फुलबैक हो सकते हैं,” मेलबोर्न कोच ने कहा। “उनके पास सबसे अच्छे प्रशिक्षकों में से एक, बिल स्लेर हैं, जो उनके साथ बहुत काम करते हैं। वह एक छोटे दायरे में बहुत तेज हैं, और यह संभालना मुश्किल है।”

ड्रैगन्स कोच शेन फ्लेनगन ने कहा कि उनके पक्ष ने “अपने ही सबसे बुरे दुश्मन” थे, क्योंकि कई गलतियों ने उन्हें अंतिम 20 मिनट में भारी नुकसान पहुंचाया, खासकर जब उन्होंने स्टॉर्म को दो अंकों से पीछे करने के बाद दूसरे हाफ में वापसी की। ड्रैगन्स अब 0-2 के स्कोर के साथ सीजन की शुरुआत कर रहे हैं, क्योंकि उन्होंने लास वेगास में बुल्स को हराया, और हाफ्स, काइल फ्लेनगन और डैनियल एटकिंसन, जो शनिवार की हार में निचले पैर की चोटों के बावजूद खेले, के स्कैन के परिणामों पर उनकी नजर होगी।

के साथ AAP