HE may have the last name but it’s his skills which Melbourne are most excited by.

Meet the man the Storm believe will be the heir to Cameron Smith’s coveted No.9 jersey, 20-year-old New Zealand product Brandon Smith.

Running around in North Queensland in the Cowboys’ 20s team, Smith will move south at the end of the year for his first NRL pre-season.

Having signed a three-year-deal, the club have mapped out a plan for the talented youngster to usher in the next generation of players at the Storm which will see him, Cameron Munster and 20s half Brodie Croft take over from the big three.

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While the Cowboys had tried to keep Smith in their system, they are well stocked for rakes, even with the departure of Rory Kostjasyn to Newcastle.

Brandon Smith scores against the Storm. Source: News Corp Australia

So when the opportunity to work under the game’s greatest No.9 came arose, it was an offer too good to refuse.

Throw in the fact the Storm offered him one more year on his contract than the Cowboys and it was a done deal.

“First of all, they offered one more year than the Cowboys,” he explained.

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“I know that to better my game in the future, the Cowboys probably offer a faster opportunity to play first grade but for a longer career in first grade, Melbourne would be the better idea because I’d be learning off the master of my own position.

“Melbourne’s one of the best options I could take.”

While Smith is a junior Kiwis representative, he and the Australian Test skipper are very different.

For one, the youngster is far more stocky and his kicking game is near non-existent.

Cowboys Brandon Smith in action. Source: News Corp Australia

But after seeing him running, passing and tackling, you quickly realise the kid has something special.

He tackles so hard that he’s had fillings fly out of his teeth and down his throat on impact during games in the 20s this season.

When asked what he wants to learn most off Smith, he replied: “Footy brains.

“I’m more of a brute. Muscle and brute but Smith is a tactical player. Last week he kicked a 40-20 in the third minute. You just don’t see that stuff.

“I don’t really have a kicking game and I haven’t really practised. I do a couple of kicks but not Smithy standard.”

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The younger Smith moved to Townsville at the age of 15 where he moved in with his older brother, also part of the Cowboys system.

Told by his coaches in New Zealand that he was too small to make it in league, Smith was determined to forge a career in the sport.

Off-field troubles stopped his brother, a front-rower, from kicking on in the NRL so Smith has seen first-hand how quickly opportunities can slip away.

Brandon Smith of the Cowboys almost scores a try. Source: News Corp Australia

That’s part of the reason he signed with the Storm.

“I’ve never seen a bad player come out of Melbourne,” Smith declared.

“They really take good people, not just good players.

“I think that’s what they’ll be turning me into — a great person and a great player.”

While most fans would expect Brandon to get his first taste of NRL during the Origin period next year, the young gun has other ideas.

Not lacking in confidence, Smith hopes to impress his new coach enough to earn a place on the bench early in 2017.

“The goal is before Origin if I can,” he said.

“I’ll do as much hard work as I can in the off-season and pre-season and you never know but Origin is looking pretty healthy for me.”

This writer is on Twitter @Nath_Ryan

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