Storm’s James Aubusson may return to Ballina for NRL trial
Former Ballina junior James Aubusson may possibly be the Melbourne Storm halfback replacement for Matt Orford when the team takes on Parramatta in the NRL trial at Ballina on February 11.
Aubusson began his career in Ballina before moving on to NRL club the Bulldogs. After a short stint with the club, he moved on to the Sydney Roosters where he started 2005 in the Premier League team before finishing the year playing in Jersey Flegg.
Last season was a particularly good year for Aubusson’s representative career, gaining New South Wales Under-19 and Junior Kangaroo honours. He also represented the Australian Schoolboys in 2003.
An online Melbourne Storm poll is asking fans to vote for either Aubusson or Cooper Cronk to fill the vacant halfback position. Orfrord has left the Storm to join Manly.
The Storm’s website says that Aubusson is a player who can cover halfback, hooker or five-eighth. “He progresses from the Roosters Premier League team in an attempt to grab an NRL spot. James will look to fill the role that Cooper Cronk played in 2005 as a utility bench player,” it said.
“James’ great attributes are his defence and great passing game. He has great natural strength and is a fierce competitor. James is one of the fittest players playing the game and will fit into the Storm culture with a great deal of ease.”
Aubusson, whose brother Mitch starred for the Ballina Seagulls last season and also gained Australian Schoolboys representative honours, says he is enjoying life in Melbourne.
“It’s great, I’m loving it. I’ve been spending a lot of time with my teammates. Because everyone is from somewhere else we tend to stick together which is really good. I went to Bells Beach yesterday and had a nice lunch with a few of the boys for Ando’s (Scott Anderson) birthday,” Aubusson says in an interview on the site.
Visit http://www.melbournestorm.com.au to read the interview in full.
