This is a long shortlist but there is no arguing that every man on here deserves to be.
There are a few Kiwi enforcers, a favourite son and some hard men who would stand behind their teammates in a heartbeat.
We look at the contenders for the second row in Melbourne Storm’s Team of the Year:
Ryan Hoffman
- 245 Storm games (2003-2011, 2012-2014, 2018-)
- 59 tries
- 2007, 2009, 2012 Premiership player
A player who embodies everything Melbourne Storm is about. ‘Hoffy’ has a team-first mentality and a fiercely competitive drive, blended with a humble nature that has endeared him to the purple army since making his debut in 2003. Having now returned to Melbourne for his third stint at the Club, it is only fitting Hoffman’s journey will end at the very place he has given his heart and soul.
Stephen Kearney
- 139 Storm games (1999-2004)
- 20 tries
- 1999 Premiership player
After Melbourne Storm finished in third place in 1998, it was the addition of Kearney that would play a vital hand in propelling the Club to Premiership glory the following year. Simply fearless, the side always had belief in getting the job done whenever he was in the team. Kearney was also one of Storm’s greatest leaders, having captained the Club from 2003-04.
David Kidwell
- 103 Storm games (2003-2006)
- 18 tries
Kidwell was as aggressive as they come. Put simply, when you got tackled by this man you knew it. For a player who attacked the game with such ferocity it is a testament to his resilience that he was able to notch over 100 games in the purple jersey in just four seasons.
Michael Crocker
- 44 Storm games (2006-2008)
- 7 tries
- 2007 Premiership player
The definition of the term ‘hard as nails’. Fewer players had more of an impact when it came to on-field success than Crocker. The one stat that proves that fact, is that of his 44 games in the purple jersey, Storm won 40 of them. After missing most of the 2007 season, Crocker returned to the side in time for the finals and was a driving force in seeing the side march through as seemingly untouchable during that year’s finals series.
Tohu Harris
- 117 Storm games (2013-2017)
- 18 tries
- 2017 Premiership player
The fastest Storm player to reach 50 games. Harris reached the half century from a possibly 51 appearances and continued that remarkable run by not missing a single game from 2014-2016. With a record like that it is easy to see why Harris earned the nickname Mr. Consistent. Storm fans always knew what they were going to get out of the Kiwi international whenever he ran onto AAMI Park.
Kevin Proctor
- 179 Storm games (2008-2016)
- 28 tries
- 2012 Premiership player
Storm fans will never forget the bushy haired second-rower. He happily assumed the mantle of hard-nosed Kiwi enforcer that was passed onto him by the legacy left by Stephen Kearney and David Kidwell. Proctor was part of the golden generation of Storm talent that won the 2009 NYC Premiership before going on to enjoy a distinguished first-grade career. The Cooper Cronk pass to Proctor try quickly became a Storm trademark over his nine years with the Club.
Danny Williams
- 146 Storm games
- 24 tries
- 1999 Premiership player
Williams spent much of the first four seasons of his career in Melbourne as an impact player coming off the bench. Midway through the 2001 season he earned a starting spot in the lock position but it was ultimately in the second row where he would cement his spot in the Storm starting side for the 2002 season. Williams always brought tremendous energy of the bench to provide a spark for his side.
