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They wanted more size, and the mail is the Warriors have got their man.
Stuff understands the Kiwi club have verbally agreed to terms and landed Melbourne young gun Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, after it was first reported back in July they were chasing the 19-year-old.
The deal is understood to be all-but done. Though the particulars of exactly when Fa'asuamaleaui will lace up for the Warriors remains up in the air.
He is still signed with the Melbourne club through until the end of the 2020 season so would need to secure an early release in order to be at Mt Smart for the upcoming season.
Rival clubs have been free to formally table offers for the powerhouse youngster since November 1, and it's believed the Warriors out-bid the competition.
The contract is said to be in the ball park of about $700,000 a season for up to four years.
Fa'asuamaleaui only managed five games of first grade in his rookie campaign, but impressed scouts from several NRL outfits, including the Warriors.
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At 197cm tall and more than 115kg, he is touted by many to be the next game-changing forward to come out of the Storm, following the in the foot steps of Jesse Bromwich and Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
The Warriors were approached by Stuff about the rumoured signing, but said they would not comment on any contract speculation.
Still, the word is they have got their man and pending a release from Melbourne, fans could see Fa'asuamaleaui as early as this upcoming pre-season.
It would be a huge coup for the club, who last season struggled to keep pace with some of the competition's bigger packs.
If not next year then it will be 2021, but given how much things can change in a year the Warriors will be hoping to get Fa'asuamaleaui here sooner rather than later.
The Storm are also very high on the young middle forward and have offered him an extension.
Should he get more minutes with the perennial powerhouse club in 2020 he could be convinced to stay on.
He also has a young family living with him in Melbourne.
Warriors recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan recently told The Heraldbringing in some size was a top priority for the club.
The club have just one vacant roster spot remaining ahead of next season, and Fa'asuamaleaui would certainly fit that bill.
"We are still not small, we are just not as big as some packs," O'Sullivan told The Herald.
"I could have signed three or four players in the last few months. They would have helped our squad a little bit but because we have only got one spot left in our 30, I didn't want to do that unless we were getting a player that helps our squad a lot.
"Priority wise the hooker was number one, the big edge back rower number two and probably a centre back rower would have been the third option which I really wanted to do. Next priority would be a big middle."
So far Penrith hooker Wayde Egan is the only new face in a squad that missed the finals last season.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...off-competition-for-melbourne-storm-young-gun
Stuff understands the Kiwi club have verbally agreed to terms and landed Melbourne young gun Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, after it was first reported back in July they were chasing the 19-year-old.
The deal is understood to be all-but done. Though the particulars of exactly when Fa'asuamaleaui will lace up for the Warriors remains up in the air.
He is still signed with the Melbourne club through until the end of the 2020 season so would need to secure an early release in order to be at Mt Smart for the upcoming season.
Rival clubs have been free to formally table offers for the powerhouse youngster since November 1, and it's believed the Warriors out-bid the competition.
The contract is said to be in the ball park of about $700,000 a season for up to four years.
Fa'asuamaleaui only managed five games of first grade in his rookie campaign, but impressed scouts from several NRL outfits, including the Warriors.
.
At 197cm tall and more than 115kg, he is touted by many to be the next game-changing forward to come out of the Storm, following the in the foot steps of Jesse Bromwich and Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
The Warriors were approached by Stuff about the rumoured signing, but said they would not comment on any contract speculation.
Still, the word is they have got their man and pending a release from Melbourne, fans could see Fa'asuamaleaui as early as this upcoming pre-season.
It would be a huge coup for the club, who last season struggled to keep pace with some of the competition's bigger packs.
If not next year then it will be 2021, but given how much things can change in a year the Warriors will be hoping to get Fa'asuamaleaui here sooner rather than later.
The Storm are also very high on the young middle forward and have offered him an extension.
Should he get more minutes with the perennial powerhouse club in 2020 he could be convinced to stay on.
He also has a young family living with him in Melbourne.
Warriors recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan recently told The Heraldbringing in some size was a top priority for the club.
The club have just one vacant roster spot remaining ahead of next season, and Fa'asuamaleaui would certainly fit that bill.
"We are still not small, we are just not as big as some packs," O'Sullivan told The Herald.
"I could have signed three or four players in the last few months. They would have helped our squad a little bit but because we have only got one spot left in our 30, I didn't want to do that unless we were getting a player that helps our squad a lot.
"Priority wise the hooker was number one, the big edge back rower number two and probably a centre back rower would have been the third option which I really wanted to do. Next priority would be a big middle."
So far Penrith hooker Wayde Egan is the only new face in a squad that missed the finals last season.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...off-competition-for-melbourne-storm-young-gun
