Putting up towering bombs that would trouble any defence, All Blacks ace Jordie Barrett would have made a handy addition for the struggling Melbourne Storm on Friday night.
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Barrett has spent the week as part of the Melbourne NRL inner sanctum and also had a day with AFL heavyweights Richmond to work on his kicking game.
As part of New Zealand's World Cup rest protocol the 26-year-old is on two weeks' break from his Super Rugby Pacific club the Hurricanes and spent the first part with the Storm.
Dressed in full kit, Barrett looked the part at Thursday training as Melbourne fine-tuned their game before taking on the Wests Tigers at AAMI Park.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy said his players were learning as much from Barrett - a utility back - as he was from them.
Kiwi halfback Jahrome Hughes, who will miss the match through suspension, has been soaking up any tips.
"It would be nice to put him there somewhere - all the guys are a bit in awe of him," Bellamy said of Barrett, who was part of New Zealand's 2019 World Cup triumph.
"He's been great being here and he's been in our meetings as well and we've learned a couple of things off him too - just how they might do things different on the field for our players in a similar position that he plays in.
"Hughesy has been hanging off his hip for the last three days so hopefully he's got something out of it.
Bellamy has always been open to sharing information with New Zealand rugby, forming a close relationship with the Crusaders with players from both outfits crossing the Tasman for pre-season training stints.
The Storm have former New Zealand Olympic rugby sevens silver medallist Will Warbrick playing on the wing.
Australian Associated Press
