Melbourne have turned to legendary halfback Cooper Cronk to help get Nick Meaney up to speed ahead of his NRL debut in the No.6 jumper.
Meaney will start at five-eighth against Wests Tigers on Saturday night at CommBank Stadium, a position he hasn't played since high school.
The 24-year-old joined the Storm this season after three years with Canterbury and one at Newcastle, playing at fullback, wing and one start in the centres over his 65-game career.
He spent the pre-season training at fullback with Ryan Papenhuyzen in doubt for the season opener with an ankle injury however the gun No.1 has trained strongly this week.
The suspension of Cameron Munster and injury to Cooper Johns left coach Craig Bellamy scratching for another playmaker with Meaney getting the nod.
"When Cooper (Johns) did his shoulder the conversation came up about me going to the halves," Meaney said on Wednesday.
"I've spent about two weeks there ... I'm still adapting to the system we have here at the Storm.
"Defensively I feel really comfortable but I'm still learning the combinations with the players around me.
Cronk played 14 seasons with Melbourne before switching to the Sydney Roosters and winning premierships in 2018 and 2019.
While he's on the Roosters books as an assistant, the former Queensland and Test half still works as a consultant with the Storm and stepped in to help Meaney with his attack.
"We've had Cooper Cronk in this week helping and it was really good to get inside of how he thinks, his approach to it, his little mindset when he's attacking the line," Meaney said.
"It's been really helpful to myself."
While he's been working on his kicking game and distribution, Meaney said his running game was still his strength.
"Being a fullback, I'd like to think my running game is probably my strongest suit but I've got guys around me who are quite handy - Kenny Bromwich and Juzzy (Justin Olam) and Xavier (Coates) on the edge so getting the ball to those guys is important to let them do their thing.
"A gold balance of both will help me fit in nicely."
Josh King, who like Meaney started his career with the Knights, will also make his Storm debut on Saturday night after being named as lock.
With Dale Finucane now with Cronulla, it's a position he could make his own.
"I probably would have almost laughed if you told me last year I would be starting round one with the Storm," King said.
"I wanted to be able to don the purple jersey at some time, that was a real goal, and to be able to start in round one I could never have dreamt it could have gone this well."
