Rugby League Coaching Manuals

Stathi Paxinos, SMH - It has been difficult to pinpoint too many areas within the Melbourne Storm during the past few seasons that could be regarded as a weakness. Results have proven that. But one area the 2007 premier has had a deficiency in ever since Nathan Friend left the club at the end of 2006 has been an established back-up to hooker and dummy half Cameron Smith.

Smith prefers to play a full game and often appears tireless in doing so — the hooker has a heavy workload during the season and is one that only gets larger during the representative periods.

Storm has tried several players during the past two years as a back-up, including James Aubusson, who began to make a mark before leaving the club, Russell Aitken and Liam Foran, while the versatile Matt Geyer also spent time in the position.

That is where off-season recruit from Canberra, Ryan Hinchcliffe, is hoping to come in this season.

"Just about every team carries a second hooker on the bench now. It's a pretty demanding position physically because you're in the middle and you've got to do so much defence and at the same time you've got to direct a team around a park," he said.

"Smithy's a fit guy but at some stage he's going to need a bit of a spell and if I can come on and do half the job that he does and play my part for the team then I think I'll do all right.

" … Just watching Smithy and the way he steers the team around and what he does, just little things like that, I've been taking note of that. I've got my own style but at the same time I'm trying to learn as much as possible because obviously he's one of the best players in the world."

Storm assistant coach Michael Maguire would not rule out the possibility of Hinchcliffe, who can also play in the halves or even in the back-row, being more than a bench utility and suggested he could be used in the contentious five-eighth position which would allow superstar Greg Inglis to play in his preferred positions in the centres.

Maguire said Hinchcliffe had impressed during the pre-season and would bring a competitive and tough attitude into the club.

Hinchcliffe said he was not concerned about playing support to the high standard set by Smith, voted the world's best footballer in 2007.

"I suppose there's a little bit of expectation there but I take confidence out of what I've done in this preseason and what I'm still doing at training in being able to the get the team around the park and play my part," Hinchcliffe said.

The 24-year-old, who spent some time at five-eighth during last week's trial against New Zealand Warriors, said he had been settling in well under the guidance of coach Craig Bellamy and assistants Maguire and Stephen Kearney.

"The training's been hard but at the same time I've been learning a lot and I've enjoyed it," Hinchcliffe said.

"They've got three really good coaches who are always pulling you in to do some video to try to help you out and make you a better player."