Melbourne Storm were already in a position to maintain their status as a top-tier #KiwiNRL club and now, having locked Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Jahrome Hughes and Kayleb Milne, the Storm have boosted their long-term #KiwiNRL stocks. As is the case in the NRL - best example is the Warriors extending the bulk of their young crew - extending contracts that have a year or two still to run is the trendy way to do businsess and it's hard to argue that Asofa-Solomona and Hughes deserve their extensions.

Snapping up Asofa-Solomona is the big piece of business, especially if we think back to the previous antics surrounding Asofa-Solomona's contracts. Back in 2016, prior to Asofa-Solomona signing a one-year deal with the Storm, there was plenty of speculation that the kid from Wellington was being chased by the All Blacks and NZR ... along with most NRL clubs. NAS then went on to sign a two-year deal which locked him in for 2018 and 2019, with a four-year extension to that contract.

As always, I'm here to chuck up the nuance and low key narratives involved and that All Blacks interest was intriguing given where we sit now with big NAS. Asofa-Solomona stated that he has moved his family over to Melbourne and one would suggest that being settled in Melbourne, as well as enjoying a swift rise to start in 21 of 24 NRL games this season essentially ensured that Asofa-Solomona's priority was to stay in Melbourne long-term.

This is only possible because the All Blacks wave passed and NZR had a crack at Asofa-Solomona in their window of opportunity; before he got super settled in Melbourne. NZR also, apparently had a crack at Roger Tuivasa-Sheck only for Tuivasa-Sheck to stay with Aotearoa Warriors and aside from NZR winning the battle for Etene Nanai-Seturo, they have lost out on signing two of brightest footy talents from Aotearoa.

Tuivasa-Sheck and Asofa-Solomona are only now entering their prime footy years, both have chosen to spend those years in the NRL. That's nice. I'm not all about the union vs league rivalry that is rooted within the souls of old kiwi folk, this is more about highlighting something that the NZR-loving mainstream media tend to overlook.

I do not believe there is any coincidence in Asofa-Solomona extending his contract after he's had a massive season. Asofa-Solomona is only 22-years-old and had previously been used predominantly as a bench forward, adding his unique x-factor off the bench in limited minutes. This season though, Asofa-Solomona went to a nek level in terms of usage and that's something we don't tend to expect from a player of NAS' size and skill.

For a young middle forward to start in 21 games at 22yrs is slightly bonkers, especially when it's Nasty NAS. This changed late in the season though as Asofa-Solomona came off the bench for the last regular season game, a Finals game and the Grand Final. After eight games in a row in which Asofa-Solomona started and played over 40 minutes, he was shifted to the bench and played less that 40mins for those last three games.

However, Asofa-Solomona has shown that he's got durability and stamina in his back of tricks this season. His previous contracts were short to allow Asofa-Solomona to develop and level up with each deal, now ensuring that the Storm are all-in on investing in Asofa-Solomona until the end of 2023. There is a direct correlation between Asofa-Solomona's development - adding new aspects to his game each season - and how his contracts with the Storm have grown.

Asofa-Solomona was already under contract for 2019 and Hughes has had a steady flow of contract extensions since arriving at the Storm on a two-year deal from North Queensland Cowboys back in 2016. Then Hughes had that contract extended for another two years, taking him to 2020 and now Hughes has been bumped out to 2021.

Hughes played 11 games this season, which is a career high after playing one game for Gold Coast Titans and then the Cowboys before playing four games last season. Six games this season were at fullback and five were at halfback, meaning that the versatile Hughes has proven his value in two key spine positions, which gives the Storm an abundance of options moving forward.

Billy Slater has retired, so Hughes could slot right into fullback. Or, Hughes could step into the halves with Brodie Croft and allow for Cameron Munster to play fullback. Either way, this season saw Hughes demand a consistent opportunity with Slater retiring and this was reflecting in Hughes winning a call up to Aotearoa Kiwis.

Kayleb Milne is a young forward, also with a rugby union background having played 1st XV rugby for St Kentigern College. Yes, the Storm continue to snap up the best rugby union talent in Aotearoa and currently have former schoolboy rugby stars (I dunno if Milne was a star though) Suliasi Vunialu, Asofa-Solomona and Milne on their books.

A Mangere East Hawks junior, Milne spent most of this year in the Storm's Under 20s team which plays in the Queensland Under 20s competition. He'll have to level up to play consistently for Sunshine Coast Falcons or Easts Tigers in Queensland Intrust Super Cup and then we may get a look at him around the NRL mix later next season; there are many forwards ahead of Milne in the pecking order.

With Milne named in the Junior Kiwis, all three of these players are high calibre #KiwiNRL talent. Brandon Smith joins Hughes in the Kiwis squad and Smith is highly likely to make his debut, while Asofa-Solomona would have been there but he requires surgey. This gives the Storm both Bromwich brothers, Hughes and Smith in the current Kiwis squad and the Storm continue their legacy of being a fantastic #KiwiNRL club.

Hit an ad to support the #KiwiNRL stuff.

Or jump on Patreon and support the Niche Cache directly, we drop bonus stuff for the Patrons and take care of the homies.

Peace and love 27.