'Big Nasty', 'The Brick' and 'Foxx' primed for another title
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Nelson Asofa-Solomona has possibly the best nickname for a player heading into a grand final – 'Big Nasty'.
"My initials are NAS so the boys just came up with that name. I don't know where it came from because I wasn't called that in school," the Melbourne and Kiwis enforcer said.
"It started here and maybe because I've always been tall, or maybe the way I play."
The Storm also have possibly the best left edge for power and speed in 'The Brick' and 'Foxx', aka centre Justin Olam and Josh Addo-Carr – more on that later.
Asofa-Solomona's 200cm, 115kg frame certainly lends itself to that style of nickname.
Match: Panthers v Storm
Grand Final -
home Team
Panthers
1st Position
away Team
Storm
2nd Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
He will need all that bulk and brawn to bring down a player like Panthers front-rower and New Zealand Test teammate James Fisher-Harris in Sunday's grand final.
"He's a very hard, direct runner," Asofa-Solomona said. "He occasionally adds good footwork so he's added a lot to his arsenal. He will be a handful this week.
"They have a great starting forward pack so it's going to be a big test for us through that middle.
"We need to start well and take it to them early."
Will grand final experience get Storm over the line?
With 11 members of the Storm's 2018 grand final team still intact for the 2020 decider, Asofa-Solomona thinks that kind of knowledge works heavily in their favour on Sunday.
"Having the experience we have is an advantage because you know how to handle the week, and it's such a big week.
"You know what to expect, and I think the massive ones are the night before the final and then the day of the final – you know how to handle those because there's a lot of nerves."
Olam has learned how to handle Addo-Carr's speed to ensure their timing is precise.
"I've had to adjust for his pace – sometimes I get a head-start early or I just have to sprint hard to stay on his tail," Olam said.
"Hopefully he gives me the ball but most times he just does the job all by himself. But you definitely have to take into account his speed – he is the most amazing player."
No surprise Addo-Carr feels the same deep affection for the man inside him.
"He's really found his feet and found his confidence. He's definitely one of the toughest players I've ever played with – he puts big hits on front rowers!" Addo-Carr said.
"We came to the Storm the same year, the back-end of 2016. He was really quiet but we've created a good relationship with each other on and off the field. I respect him as a human being – really proud of his people and where he's from.
"He is thriving in the NRL and I always knew he would."
And the nickname?
"We call him the human brick because he's just like a brick," Addo-Carr said.
"He runs hard and dead straight at anyone. You also see that in training sessions, in trial games … I knew it would take him a little time but now in my opinion he's the best centre in the game both in attack and defence."
Smith, the streak, the Storm dynasty and the grand final showdown
