Blake Green left the NRL in search of desire and fuelled by self-doubt. He wanted to regain the passion he had when he dominated at the junior level having failed to make a lasting impact during stints with Parramatta, Cronulla and Canterbury. With just 43 games to his name, Green left for the English Super League in 2011 unsure if he would ever return.
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"All the schoolboy rep teams were against players of my own age, playing against kids," the former Australian Schoolboy said. "I didn't think about the game too much. When I came into first grade I was thrown around in a heap of different positions, with that utility tag for a while. Heading overseas and playing in the halves gave me an understanding of how the game's played and how to control the game. That's been the main difference, having that knowledge to understand what's required at certain times of the games.
"I've played footy since I was four. I love the sport. I just lost a little bit of love for the game. I got to knock out 90 first-grade games over there and play in the halves every week and really got a better understanding of the game. I went back to having some fun and enjoying myself."
With unfinished business in the NRL he jumped at the chance to join the Storm this year. Now he is one victory away from adding an NRL grand final appearance to the 2013 premiership he won with Wigan.
"It's been a really easy transition," Green said. "I haven't found it difficult at all. I've just been able to go about my footy and play my own style. I've enjoyed taking over at times and controlling the game. It's important to have the right balance. You can't let Coops [Cooper Cronk] be on his own."
Green has provided the extra point of attack the Storm have craved since Gareth Widdop's defection to St George Illawarra last year. The 29-year-old is the only member of the Storm's backline to play every game this year and has reinvigorated the Storm's left side of the field.
"'Coops gets targeted and it was important to have a genuine option on the other side of the field for him," Green said. "That was my role to make sure we had effective shape on the other side and give Smithy [Cameron Smith] another option on the other side of the ruck."
The Storm used three five-eighths last year with Smith, Ben Hampton and Ben Roberts all filling in to partner Cronk at the scrum base. Cronk said Green had an ability to keep the side calm.
"He has been a great inclusion," Cronk said. "Not only on the field but off the field. He is a terrific guy to have around. He has slotted in nicely. A lot of people analyse halves about big plays and setting up tries and scoring tries. He has done that consistently this year.
"The No.1 thing you need as a half is temperament. He has great composure, his personality is quite chilled out and relaxed."
