Melbourne Storm winger Sandor Earl is 'itching for the chance' to once again prove he belongs at the top level and is targeting the upcoming Origin period to show his wares.
Earl has featured just once this season – he played on the wing against the Cowboys in round five when Suli Vunivalu was suspended – but looks set for another chance to impress over the next month when many of his teammates are away on Origin duty.
With outside backs Josh Addo-Carr, Will Chambers and a host of other Storm stars tied up with NSW and Queensland, Earl wants to make the most of any chances that arise in Craig Bellamy’s side.
"I am itching for another chance," Earl told NRL.com.
"It has been six or seven weeks since I had a crack at the NRL, so I am really looking forward to my next opportunity.
"I am training well, playing well and I am ready."
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The Storm face the Warriors three days after Origin I and then face a huge clash against the Roosters in round 15 just five days after Origin II.
In round 16 their Origin players will be away in camp for the final game of the series when the Storm face the Dragons in Wollongong.
Earl admitted he was nervous when he played against the Cowboys earlier in the season, but says he is better equipped now to show his best following a stint of solid performances in the Intrust Super Cup for the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
The rugby league journeyman – who only returned from a four-year drug infraction at the end of the 2017 season – has eight tries from six appearances at the Falcons this year and believes he can make an impact if given a chance to impress over the next month.
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"I have done a lot since then (Storm debut earlier this season) confidence-wise and I am really keen to take my next opportunity,” he said.
"In reflection…I prepared really well and had a really good pre-season, but I just needed to get that first game out of the way.
"There is a lot of emphasis on that first game, a lot of build-up and since then I have taken away a few things and really worked on it.
"We have got guys at the club like Billy Slater... we have them weekly and you get a lot of opportunity to improve yourself.
"I have gone away and looked at some things and I feel really confident and ready for another game.”
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Dynamic fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen has already made the jump from the Falcons to the Storm this season and Earl believes there are a host of other players capable of doing similar if provided with an opportunity.
"We have a whole edge that train together, put that into practice on the weekend and we get an opportunity to review at the Storm,” Earl said.
“We are all ready for our opportunities and there is probably going to be a few over the next couple of weeks with Origin and what not, so I think everyone will be ready when they get the chance.”
