Coach Craig Bellamy has lauded his "new Nicho Hynes" with Nick Meaney emerging as one of Melbourne's most valuable players.
Joining the Storm this season as a replacement for Hynes, who linked with Cronulla, Meaney is the side's Mr Fix-it having played in the halves, on the wing and at fullback where he has replaced injured star Ryan Papenhuyzen for the past six weeks.
On a slippery deck at AAMI Park on Friday night, Meaney was almost flawless as he helped Melbourne to a 32-20 victory over fellow top-four outfit Brisbane.
He found a hole in the Broncos defence and then used a backhand flick pass to offload with halfback Jahrome Hughes racing to the line which crucially levelled the game at 16-16 at halftime.
Bellamy praised the 24-year-old's versatility and also his game smarts since his arrival at Melbourne after three seasons with the struggling Bulldogs.
"He's been great for us wherever he's played - I think the only position he hasn't played is in the centres," Bellamy said of Newcastle-born Meaney.
"He's a very smart player, knows the game real well.
"He's a really talented footy player; a good mover and he's got good skill."
Papenhuyzen is set to return for their next match against Manly after recovering from knee and hamstring injuries followed by a dose of COVID-19.
But Bellamy said he would find a way to keep Meaney in the side, having made 12 appearances this year, scoring seven tries.
"We'll find a place for him in our 17 or even our 13," the coach said.
"He's a very valuable player and he just seems to get a little bit more confident as he gets more familiar with the players.
"He just seems to be forging ahead really quickly."
Bellamy said Papenhuyzen had been hit quite hard by COVID-19, which he contracted two days before he was due to make his comeback against Brisbane.
The illness also ruled him out of NSW State of Origin selection for game II in Perth next Sunday.
"I spoke to him yesterday and he didn't sound too great, but he thought he was over the worst of it," Bellamy said.
"He had been reasonably sick but he just thought he was coming out of that.
"He was fairly disappointed getting it at that stage as he had six weeks where he could have had it and it wouldn't have made much difference.
"He's got plenty of time to recover and hopefully will be back for our next game."
