Nelson Asofa-Solomona was one of not too many genuine bright spots in the Aotearoa Kiwis Rugby League World Cup campaign. His form during the 2016 and 2017 NRL seasons ensured that this wasn't much of a surprise though and while Melbourne Storm fans would have been able to predict exactly how block-bustin' NAS would be, they must have got giddy at the sight of NAS stepping up to the international level in true Nasty NAS style.

Storm fans would have also known that there was a certain beastly big bopper who was lurking in their chamber, rolling through a mandatory two-week period in which Storm players have to work a labour job - no other NRL team is doing that and no other NRL team is as successful as Melbourne Storm. Sam Kasiano was assigned to work a racecourse, slugging away fixing the turf and getting a classic 'haere mai' to life under Craig Bellamy.

Unlike NAS, Kasiano isn't blessed with the recency bias. In the 'what have you done lately' bucket, Kasiano hasn't done a whole lot and after being injured for much of the 2017 season, Kasiano took up an offer to join the Storm. You'd be forgiven if you didn't know that A) Kasiano had gone to the Storm and B) just how much of a freak-a-zoid Kasiano is; that's how low key all of this has been.

Funnily enough, there was plenty of noise about Kasiano's weight-loss going into the 2017 NRL season and that became a weird note once the season started. Not only did Kasiano eventually miss a lot of footy through injury, it appeared as though Kasiano had lost weight over summer and then put it back on once the season began. Kinda appearing as though Kasiano had been advised by the Bulldogs to stick to a certain size for a certain role and with David Klemmer, James Graham and Aiden Tolman starting and playing big minutes, Kasiano was only really required for 20-30 minutes a game. 

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler didn't quite know how to best use Kasiano and that's despite Kasiano being the Bulldogs' best attacking weapon. The Bulldogs would often start games and roll through their mediocre attack, with gritty defence keeping them in the contest and then late in the first-half, Kasiano would change everything with his carries, passing and offloads.

Players of Kasiano's size shouldn't be able to move like he does, nor should they have the hands of Kasiano and this made Kasiano just as damaging carting the footy up the guts, as creeping to an edge where he could operate as the world's biggest play-maker.

We didn't see too much of this last season though and I don't view that as any negative on Kasiano's behalf, hence this isn't about Kasiano getting back to his best. I expect Kasiano to start next season on fire because through injury and some weird usage from Hasler, Kasiano simply had the universe pushing him out of Belmore. And into the waiting arms of Melbourne Storm.

A top-five narrative for next season will be scoping out how Craig Bellamy uses Kasiano. Bellamy is the best coach in the game and his minutes, style of play etc for Kasiano will be fascinating, especially when you consider changes the Storm have made in how much they offload and they've added some genuine funk to their attack in recent years. They still have their attacking structure in 'good ball' but there is a lot of flexibility to welcome an offload and that's most evident in Billy Slater being among the NRL's top offloaders. 

Melbourne are also capable of raising the tempo by plowing through the ruck with their backs and forwards earning quick play-the-balls and forcing repeat efforts from three/four defenders. Their backs get out of dummy half (Slater, Will Chambers are the best at this) and then NAS, Bromwich bros, Dale Finucane, Tim Glasby and Jordan McLean would hit a short-ball from Smith and land on their belly. Kasiano is effectively replacing McLean and while McLean has emerged as a fantastic middle forward who while relish greater responsibility with North Queensland Cowboys, Kasiano's a fair replacement.

NAS isn't the only #KiwiNRL bloke who will be fabulous to watch alongside the uso Kasiano - who didn't feature for Samoa in RLWC. Jesse Bromwich flexed his 'best prop' muscles last season and his footwork/offloading combined with NAS and Kasiano is going to be a nightmare for opposition teams, like seriously; this will be the best middle forward group once again. 

Melbourne have the grafters to compliment Bromwich, NAS and Kasiano. That's meat and vege for Finucane, while Glasby is similar and with Smith adding his defensive wizardry into the mixer, there's a nice balance of funk and graft.

Kenny Bromwich could slot into Tohu Harris' left edge spot. That's the likeliest scenario, although if Kenny plays through the middle as he has done recently, the passing combinations that he's shown with Jesse could be upgraded to include Kasiano. Kasiano has consistently lingered out on an edge throughout his career and even if Kenny is an edge forward, there could be some funky left edge combinations in store for us next season.

It's also worth noting here that Melbourne have once again slid on into Aotearoa's 1st 15 rugby union turf and named Kayleb Milne (St Kents) and Junior Ratuvu (Kings College) as development players. 1st 15 rugby is fantastic as NRL clubs have all the hard work done for them in terms of scouting players and Melbourne Storm have the best record in terms of taking 1st 15 rugby union talent and breeding NRL talent; Matt Duffie, Suliasi Vunivalu and NAS himself.

Shem Tatupu appears to still be on the Storm's books as well, although I'm not 3,000 percent sure on that one. Tatupu linked up with Hawthorn Hawks in the AFL after playing schoolboy rugby in Auckland and was then signed from Hawthorn by Melbourne, only to be hit by a car late last year. I'll keep tabs on the Storm's summer progress to see where Tatupu, Milne and Ratuvu pop up.

If this ain't the definition of a 'Melbourne Storm play' I dunno what is:

Despite losing Harris and McLean, don't expect Melbourne's forward pack to be any worse off next season. I'd also suggest that if you think Melbourne will fall off without Cooper Cronk, your rugby league yarns can't be trusted. In Kasiano, Melbourne have one of the most destructive forwards in the NRL and he's still only 27years, plus NAS is ready to level-up and Jesse Bromwich is still pure class. 

Melbourne Storm don't fall off.

And when they lose a #KiwiNRL cuzzie, they keep their #KiwiNRL stocks full in grabbing the uso Kasiano. 

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Peace and love 27.