Storm coach Craig Bellamy pleased to have Cameron Munster and Nick Meaney fit for trial against Cowboys

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has welcomed the earlier-than-expected return of key pair Cameron Munster and Nick Meaney for Sunday’s trial against North Queensland at Casey Field.

Star five-eighth Munster and versatile backline weapon Meaney both had off-season hip injury, and originally weren’t expected to be available for selection until Melbourne’s opening game of the NRL season on March 9 against Parramatta at AAMI Park.

However, the pair are set to receive some game time on Sunday, while another Storm player who had a hip operation, hooker Bronson Garlick, is also likely to play after making his return in last weekend’s 36-10 trial loss to the New Zealand Warriors.

“Last week we wouldn’t have thought that (Munster, Meaney and Garlick would have all been available for Sunday’s match), but they’ve all come through good and they’re all keen to play obviously,” Bellamy said.

“Nick was probably the last one to be ready, and probably didn’t know until midway through this week, but he’s trained really well this week.

“It’s good for them to get a run before round one, which when they had the surgery, we probably weren’t thinking that, so it’s good that those guys firing and fully fit.”

Off-season recruit Stefano Utoikamanu, the 24-year-old prop who joined the Storm from the Wests Tigers, will also play on Sunday.

“He’s been really good. He’s quite fit and mobile for a big guy, so hopefully we can use those abilities and put them into our game,” Bellamy said.

“He’s great to have here. He’s really diligent with his preparation in his training, so hopefully we’ll see the results of his good pre-season (on Sunday).”

Bellamy admitted to being on edge ahead of the Storm’s final pre-season trial.

“You’re always a little bit jumpy. This is the last game before the competition starts, so we’re trying to get a few things right,” he said.

“Hopefully we can have a good trial, and hopefully we can do some things that we’ve practised during the pre-season, and get those things right and go from there.”

In other Storm selection news ahead of round one, star pair Xavier Coates (ankle) and Jahrome Hughes (calf) are expected to be fit to take on the Eels in a fortnight’s time.

Melbourne Storm’s general manager of football Frank Ponissi said: “Xavier is going really well. He’s not training with the team just yet, but he’s been running close to full speed with our rehab staff.

“Jahrome had a minor calf issue over the last week and he’s just getting back to full training. Sunday is probably a bit too early for him to play, so like Xavier, we expect Jahrome to be fully fit for the Parramatta game.”