Hammerhead
Grey Nurse
School's out for talented Aitken
KARL DEKROO
Daily Telegraph
KARL DEKROO
Daily Telegraph
MATT King was the last player Melbourne Storm plucked from Cronulla's reserve grade ranks and within two years he had emerged as one of the world's premier centres.
The Storm are not expecting the same dramatic rise to prominence from Russell Aitken. But they do believe the former Australian schoolboys representative will prove the player to fill the shoes of England-bound five-eighth Scott Hill.
After losing the promising Jackson Nicolau to North Queensland and failing to prise Joel Moon from the grasp of Brisbane, Storm last night signed Aitken, 21, to a two-year deal.
The Cronulla junior was contracted to North Queensland at the start of this season but played only a handful of trial games for the Cowboys top squad. He returned to Sydney midway through the year claiming he was homesick.
"He has had a few hurdles in his career, but from what I've seen with Cronulla reserves he is back to his best form," O'Sullivan said last night.
"He was the golden child of his age group and sometimes it is hard when you have to carry those sort of expectations.
"He has struggled to get a chance at Cronulla and I think all he needs is to get some confidence and for the people around him to show some faith in him."
Aitken visited Melbourne yesterday to view the Storm's facilities and finalise the terms of his contract.
O'Sullivan said he was confident that together with halfback Cooper Cronk and hooker Cameron Smith, Aitken could become a key member of Storm's on-field brains trust.
"He is ready to play first grade on a consistent basis and he will get first crack at filling the No.6," O'Sullivan said. "He is definitely the type of player we want. He is nice and tall, he is a running player, has a good passing game and he is not dissimilar in a lot of ways to Hilly."
At this stage Aitken and Newcastle winger Anthony Quinn are Storm's only major signings for 2007, but another former Shark, centre Brent Grose, is expected to confirm he will return from England to join Melbourne.