Star recruit Stefano Utoikamanu is excited to "do a bit of damage" with fellow Melbourne prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona, with the hulking pair headlining one of the NRL's most formidable front-rows this season.
Utoikamanu has settled in at high-flying Melbourne and was one of their best performers in their two pre-season matches, even bagging his first try in Storm colours.
Asofa-Solomona remains sidelined until round three following the five-game ban that saw him rubbed out of their losing grand final side.
But Utoikamanu, who joined the Storm after a stint at struggling Wests Tigers, says he's been learning from the giant Kiwi.
"I feel like I can take some things out of his game and add to my game," the 24-year-old told AAP.
"I'm already big and he's bigger than me so it's pretty cool that I'll get to go out there and play with him.
"I'm excited to do it because I know we can do a bit of damage together."
As well as the Storm pack, Utoikamanu said one of the attractions of Melbourne was that they boast some of the game's top players across many positions which would help evolve his game.
Utoikamanu highlighted how getting out of his comfort zone was a primary reason for his decision to knock back huge money offers to remain with the Wests Tigers or sign with Canterbury.
"Staying in Sydney is probably going to be the most comfortable for me because I have pretty much all my family there," said Utoikamanu, whose partner and two young boys have just moved to Melbourne.
"I looked at coming here as being probably the most uncomfortable because I don't really have anyone and I think that's going to put me under pressure and make me work a bit harder.
"When you get comfortable with being uncomfortable, that's when you strive in footy so I knew coming here I'm going to become a better player.
"I knew if I wanted to get the most out of myself, I probably needed to take a bit of a pay cut."
Storm skipper Harry Grant said Utoikamanu had put his head down since joining the club, and he felt he would be a huge asset to their line-up.
"He's brought a lot of size, and we saw that on the weekend with his aggression and physicality," Grant said of the Samoa forward.
"One thing I've respected and been impressed by is he's just come here to work and get better.
"He's really bought into trying to get the best out of himself and working hard and wants to let his actions speak for him.
"If you do that well and for long enough, you've got a lot of respect within the group and he's certainly found that now."
