Primed for playmaking
Karl Dekroo
July 25, 2006 12:00am
TEENAGE star Greg Inglis could be fast-tracked into a playmaking role for Storm next season if Melbourne fails to lure Joel Moon from the Broncos.
With veteran five-eighth Scott Hill switching to the English Super League and the promising Jackson Nicalau having signed with North Queensland, Storm does not have a recognised No. 6 on its roster for 2007.
Moon is viewed as the ideal replacement for Hill, but the Australian Schoolboys representative's future remained unclear last night.
He met Broncos coach Wayne Bennett yesterday as Brisbane made a last-ditch attempt to retain the youngster.
"We are quietly confident, but we do have a couple of other options," Storm recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan said.
"We have spoken to a player from another club, but we also have options from within."
bStorm coach Craig Bellamy sees Inglis's long-term future at five-eighth.
Ideally Storm would prefer Inglis, 19, to continue his development at centre or fullback, but O'Sullivan admitted the possibility of an earlier move had been discussed.
"It is one of the scenarios we have considered," O'Sullivan said.
"Matt Geyer has also shown in the past he can do the job at No. 6 so we have a few options."
Bellamy said with the benefit of another off-season Inglis could handle the switch to a decision-making role.
"He is obviously a very talented player and has all the attributes of a five-eighth," Bellamy said.
Inglis will return from a back injury against St George Illawarra in Sydney on Sunday.
"He'll definitely play, that's all that's certain at the moment," Bellamy said.
"We might look at a bench role but we also have (prop) Garret Crossman back so there are a few decisions to make."
