http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21120836-23214,00.html
AUSTRALIA'S best rugby league winger is moving to five-eighth. Melbourne Storm wants star youngster Greg Inglis to become more involved in its playmaking, and it is expected the 20 year old will wear the No.6 jumper this year.
Inglis filled several backline roles in his breakout 2006 NRL season, flitting largely between fullback and the wing in scoring 18 tries. But with veteran five-eighth Scott Hill having left the 2006 runner-up for England, Storm coach Craig Bellamy wants the ball in Inglis's hands more often.
"It's fair to say Craig is looking to get Greg closer to the action," football operations manager Dean Lance said yesterday.
Inglis was named on the wing in a World XIII team after starring throughout last year's Tri-Nations series in which he was leading tries scorer in the No.5 Australia jumper. He was also joint leader in line breaks - 26 all up with Newcastle Knights winger Brian Carney - in last year's NRL competition, with Inglis's powerful and elusive running ability regularly leaving far more experienced players in his wake.
The shake-up would add another formidable element to an already potent backline. With Inglis in the halves alongside last season's Dally M halfback of the year Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater would return permanently to his favourite fullback position. New South Wales and Kangaroos centre Matt King appears likely to team up with Newcastle recruit Anthony Quinn in the centres, with veteran Matt Geyer and Steve Turner on the wings. Quinn has settled in well in pre-season training and is expected to take the place of departed Kiwi Test centre Jake Webster in the No.4 jumper for Storm's three trial matches.
Lance said forward Ryan Hoffman, who played most of last season with a fractured wrist, recently had his plaster removed after post-season surgery and is raring to go. But Storm physiotherapist Mary Toomey said he was likely to be kept under wraps until the third pre-season match, at home against grand final nemesis Brisbane at Princes Park on March 3.
Powerhouse forward Michael Crocker, who tore the lateral ligament in his left knee during last year's preliminary final, has recovered well from surgery. After recently resuming jogging, Crocker is a chance to return within the first month of the regular season. Others in doubt for the opening rounds include Brett White, who is having a shoulder reconstruction, and Storm's 2006 rookie of the year Adam Blair, who had surgery after suffering a foot injury playing for New Zealand in the Tri-Nations.
AUSTRALIA'S best rugby league winger is moving to five-eighth. Melbourne Storm wants star youngster Greg Inglis to become more involved in its playmaking, and it is expected the 20 year old will wear the No.6 jumper this year.
Inglis filled several backline roles in his breakout 2006 NRL season, flitting largely between fullback and the wing in scoring 18 tries. But with veteran five-eighth Scott Hill having left the 2006 runner-up for England, Storm coach Craig Bellamy wants the ball in Inglis's hands more often.
"It's fair to say Craig is looking to get Greg closer to the action," football operations manager Dean Lance said yesterday.
Inglis was named on the wing in a World XIII team after starring throughout last year's Tri-Nations series in which he was leading tries scorer in the No.5 Australia jumper. He was also joint leader in line breaks - 26 all up with Newcastle Knights winger Brian Carney - in last year's NRL competition, with Inglis's powerful and elusive running ability regularly leaving far more experienced players in his wake.
The shake-up would add another formidable element to an already potent backline. With Inglis in the halves alongside last season's Dally M halfback of the year Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater would return permanently to his favourite fullback position. New South Wales and Kangaroos centre Matt King appears likely to team up with Newcastle recruit Anthony Quinn in the centres, with veteran Matt Geyer and Steve Turner on the wings. Quinn has settled in well in pre-season training and is expected to take the place of departed Kiwi Test centre Jake Webster in the No.4 jumper for Storm's three trial matches.
Lance said forward Ryan Hoffman, who played most of last season with a fractured wrist, recently had his plaster removed after post-season surgery and is raring to go. But Storm physiotherapist Mary Toomey said he was likely to be kept under wraps until the third pre-season match, at home against grand final nemesis Brisbane at Princes Park on March 3.
Powerhouse forward Michael Crocker, who tore the lateral ligament in his left knee during last year's preliminary final, has recovered well from surgery. After recently resuming jogging, Crocker is a chance to return within the first month of the regular season. Others in doubt for the opening rounds include Brett White, who is having a shoulder reconstruction, and Storm's 2006 rookie of the year Adam Blair, who had surgery after suffering a foot injury playing for New Zealand in the Tri-Nations.
