AFTER a week Melbourne Storm would rather forget, the wheel began to turn yesterday with the club announcing two key forward signings for next season.
Bulldogs back-rower Dennis Scott, 28, and Manly prop Ian Donnelly, 23, have both inked two-year deals with Storm.
More signings are expected over the weekend with Melbourne thought to be leading the race to secure the services of Jamie Feeney (Bulldogs).
Yesterday's announcement provided some much needed good news for Storm on the eve of its pivotal clash with Parramatta at Olympic Park tonight.
In the past week skipper Stephen Kearney has agreed to a two-year deal with Hull, while fellow back-rower Kirk Reynoldson was lured to Newcastle on a four-year contract.
That coupled with Danny Williams' high profile judiciary appearance, and the subsequent adjournment of that case, has further destabilised Storm's finals campaign which is losing momentum after consecutive losses on the road.
"There has been a bit of doom and gloom around the place and it is good to get things moving and to show we are making some steps forward," coach Craig Bellamy said last night.
"Hopefully this is a good start in terms of building some depth for next season.
"Both Dennis and Ian are good, strong first grade players. They see it as an opportunity to come down here and we're more than happy to have them."
In the case of Donnelly, it was a matter of second time lucky for Bellamy.
Storm pursued the youngster hard last season when he was coming off contract at St George Illawarra. Manly won the big money battle, but Donnelly's career hasn't kicked on as he might have hoped.
He requested a release for next season to join Storm and it was granted.
"Ian is a big strong guy and he carries the ball really well so we think he can be a useful player with us," Bellamy said.
Donnelly will add size and power to the Melbourne pack and shapes as a likely replacement for Storm stalwart Rodney Howe, who is tipped to play out his career in England.
Scott has struggled to establish himself in the Bulldogs starting pack, but is a regular on their interchange bench. He will come to Melbourne in search of more playing time.
"He is a very good defender and he can use the footy as well," Bellamy said.
"I don't want to compare him to Steve (Kearney), but he is probably going to help us to fill that void a little. He isn't going to be captain or anything but he is very experienced and he has a steadying influence on the field."
Scott's career began in Brisbane with the Broncos, where Bellamy served as an assistant coach. He is expected to travel to Melbourne to watch tonight's game against the Eels. Bellamy is hoping the forward likes what he sees, because Storm desperately needs a win to get its season back on track.
Losses to the Bulldogs and then the Tigers, has left Storm precariously placed on the NRL ladder and its finals prospects would be badly dented by a defeat tonight.
Bellamy said his team had not been distracted by Williams' judiciary appearance.
"Danny's incident is out of our hands and I'd be disappointed if that influenced our performance," Bellamy said.
