The Melbourne Storm's bye came at an ideal time for mid-season club-recruit Nate Myles who is taking time to adjust to his new surroundings.
The competition leaders have set the NRL benchmark this year and are primed for the home stretch into the finals, and the addition of a player of Myles's experience is a welcome boost for the forward pack.
While he was discarded by the Manly Sea Eagles, Myles asserts he is far from done under the tutelage of master coach Craig Bellamy.
"I understand everyone's going to have an opinion on the backend of my career which I totally agree with – I'm 32 now and I'm not getting any younger," Myles said. "I don't think, and I'm not expecting Craig to make me into a world beater again but thus far I've thoroughly enjoyed being down here and learning from him."
Named to come off the bench against the Canberra Raiders in his second match for Melbourne, Myles isn't resting on his past laurels and is opting to making the most of his new opportunity.
"To get down here and get some honest feedback from Craig, which I'm sure everyone else gets, (it) sets you back a bit but makes you work harder," Myles said.
"I find the club focuses a lot on individuals and benefits that come with focusing on their weaknesses. For me, there's a lot of weaknesses. They've let me know about it so I've got a lot to work on."
One strength that Myles possesses is his familiarity with the Storm 'Big Three' of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater, having found plenty of success with the trio in the Origin arena for Queensland.
Myles will play with the full Melbourne complement after their emphatic State of Origin series-deciding victory in Game Three. Smith, Cronk, Slater, Will Chambers, Tim Glasby and Maroons debutant Cameron Munster were outstanding in delivering one of the state's greatest ever wins.
Myles, a former Origin star, found plenty of amusement in watching his teammates defy their critics on the big stage.
"I'm just amazed at someone like Cameron Munster who came in," Myles said.
"I always get enjoyment when the media tend to poke some of the greats of the game like Cameron Smith about how he's not attacking and he hasn't been playing well. It's always enjoyable to see what he was going to come out with after that."
The hope is Melbourne's Origin superstars carry that form back into the club arena for the NRL finals, starting this week with rivals Canberra in a rematch of last year's preliminary final.
