Land of hope and 'Dory': Why Shawn's loving life at Storm

Melbourne Storm players have found themselves dealing with a unique distraction during media interviews – and it comes in the form of their own teammates.

“The guys have this thing called 'Dory',” back-rower Shawn Blore told NRL.com.

“You can hear them in the background. It’s like another word for long story, I don’t know how to explain it... people just say they’ve cut someone off. I have no idea where it’s come from and why everyone’s been doing it, but it’s fun.”

Whatever the Storm are doing seems to be working as they sit second after 11 rounds with an 8-2 record, and former Tiger Blore has been a key figure in the impressive start.

“This sort of environment is every day, even after a loss,” he explained. “It keeps the spirits high. It’s a fun environment. I don’t know if I can stay around the class clowns for too much longer, though!”

Blore was a Penrith junior before making his NRL debut in 2020 for Wests Tigers, so making the move to Melbourne marks the first time he has been away from his family.

“It’s obviously hard being away from them but they try to make the trip down as much as they can, especially home games,” the 23-year-old said.

“The Storm do the family side of things really, really well and I think that’s what makes them want to come back every week, because they are so welcome here.

“They came down for the Sharks game [in Round 10]. It’s not good to lose but still had a good time and it’s good to have them around.

"That’s what I love about Melbourne too - how welcome they’ve made my family.”

Blore played in a trial match and three Queensland Cup games before making his Storm debut against the Knights in Round 3, averaging 83 run metres per game and coming up with 16 tackle breaks and three line breaks in his eight appearances.

“I only got a taste of half of [pre-season], but you could just tell how different and how intense it was [in Melbourne],” he said.

“I think if anyone’s able to get through one of those pre-seasons, you’ll take a lot of confidence out of something like that.”

“Craig is probably one of the greatest coaches of all time. I was really happy when I heard that news [his contract extension]. I feel like I’ve got a lot more to learn off him and he has a lot more knowledge to give.

“I think we’ve got a big back row, and that’s one of our strengths. That also comes with the spine that we play off – Munny [Munster] and Hughesy and Paps [Papenhuyzen]. What you want to do is push around those guys. They’re so off-the-cuff, you’ve just got to get yourself in the picture.

“We’ve got to bring our own unique style as well, to add to what they can bring. I think we’re doing a good job of that so far. But we have so much improvement left in us, which is a scary thing.”

The Storm spine has taken a battering on the injury front with Munster facing 10 weeks out with a groin injury and Papenhuyzen not due back until Round 14 but Hughes is back from a calf injury this weekend to team with Tyran Wishart.

With the wins coming on the field the laughs happening off the field, it's little wonder Blore is lapping up life in Melbourne.