3 minute read

Melbourne miss star winger Josh Addo-Carr but they will do the best to wipe his trademark grin as the new Canterbury winger lines up against his former club.

Melbourne say they miss Josh Addo Carr's trademark beaming grin around AAMI Park, but they will be happy not to see it for another 80 minutes on Sunday.

Now playing with Canterbury, the 26-year-old will line up against his former side at AAMI Park for the first time after moving back to Sydney to be closer to family.

At Melbourne, Addo-Carr established himself as one of the game's premier wingers - twice tallying 23 tries in a season among a haul of 96 during his five-year stint there.

He's yet to cross the white stripe with the Bulldogs in three rounds, but Storm skipper Jesse Bromwich said he was always a danger.

"He's just very talented," Bromwich said of the player who goes by the moniker of 'Fox'.

"Obviously, he's really fast - there's not many people faster then the Fox so with both skills and that speed, he's always going to be hard to defend.

"Addo was really good at making the most of his chances because he used to go so hard so hopefully doesn't go so hard this week, and we do a good job on him."

Bromwich said Addo-Carr had brought a special energy to the club as well as helping them secure premierships in 2017 and 2020.

"You miss him for sure you know, he's one of the boys and he'd been here for a long time and done some really special things for this club," the prop said.

"He's just got a lot of energy, really infectious with his laugh and his talk and he's always loud and bringing music around on the place."

Loud music and Addo-Carr's guffawing laugh are about the only things Storm coach Craig Bellamy doesn't miss about his former player.

However he has some new talent at his disposal after luring Xavier Coates, Nick Meaney and New Zealand rugby sevens star Will Warbrick to the club as replacement wingers while Melbourne youngster Dean Ieremia continues to improve.

Ex-Brisbane Bronco Coates, and Meaney, who joined the Storm after three seasons with the Bulldogs, will line up on the flanks on Sunday.

"He has kept very quiet which is actually surprising; I thought I might have got a late night text or something," Bellamy said.

"He's obviously one of our favourite guys here, he did a great job for us on the field and added a lot to our club off the field as well - he's always got a smile on his face.

"We do miss him but for the 80 minutes he's on the other side so we'll talk to him before and after but hopefully we during we make it a tough afternoon for him and the Bulldogs."