'Tino style': Best yet to come as young forward targets finals fling

Storm forward Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has been one of the competition’s outstanding performers but says his best is yet to come as he targets his "number one goal" in October.

The 20-year-old giant has played all 19 games for Melbourne this year but will be rested for Sunday’s clash with the Dragons to get over a calf injury.

Fa’asuamaleaui, who will join the Titans in 2021, played five matches in his rookie season last year but was not part of the Storm side which bowed out in the finals one match short of the decider.

"It is my number one goal. I’d love to go out with a [premiership] ring and on a good note with the club," he said.

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"I have been dreaming about it for a long time now but we have a lot of good teams to come up against.

"I think I can [go to another level]. I have to knuckle down on my training even more coming into finals and I am hoping to go to another level in the finals.

"Finals are a different game so I have to go that extra mile. There are a lot of things [to improve] in defence and attack, but defence is what wins finals."

Storm coach Craig Bellamy is famous for his sprays but Fa’asuamaleaui says they have one main theme.

"They have been all about defence really. That is all he really cares about," he grinned.

The Storm can’t keep all their rising stars and Fa’asuamaleaui will return to Queensland next year with a feeling of sadness at leaving behind such a great club.

"I started here. I debuted here and this club has done a lot for me off the field," he said.

"I am going to be real sad but I am hoping to leave on a good note."

Maroons coach Kevin Walters is set to name Fa’asuamaleaui in his Maroons squad and Bellamy said recently he had no doubt that he was ready for the Origin cauldron.

"It feels good hearing that kind of stuff from those high-profile boys. I just have to stay healthy and play some good football to get my name over the line," Fa’asuamaleaui said.

"If I do get the opportunity I will just play the way I have been … Tino style, I guess."

Once the Origin campaign is over he will join his good mate David Fifita at the Titans, a club on the way up under Justin Holbrook.

"I am excited. I can’t wait to have my good mate [Fifita] there," he said.

"Hopefully me and him and the other boys can change the club around and go from there.

"Those [Titans] boys have been improving each week and showing heaps of aggression which is good. Hopefully next year when I get there we can build from that."