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i guess i have a reason to support the storm this weekend
Storm centre Will Chambers chases Premiership before switching to Queensland Reds
BEFORE this season Storm centre Will Chambers hadn't played finals football, and unless the Queensland Reds' rebirth happens far more quickly than most expect, he might have a while to wait until his next campaign.
Win or lose, Sunday's grand final against Parramatta will bring down the curtain on the 21-year-old's Storm career.
Next season the Northern Territory product will move north to Brisbane to link with the Reds.
In the time since he put pen to paper the Super 14 franchise has been turned on its head. Star back Berrick Ba rnes has departed, so too coach Phil Mooney and his staff.
Chambers knows he has some challenging times ahead as the Reds rebuild, but for now he is determined to ensure his first shot at the finals reaps the ultimate prize.
"I know that this is it, but we are in a grand final, that has to be my focus, doing my part for the club," Chambers said.
"There has been a bit of extra motivation because I have made a lot of mates down here. It is a great club and I have really matured as a footballer during my time here.
"Just to get a chance to play finals, this as my first finals series has been really special. It is everything you dream of as a kid.
"Next year will be a new challenge and I'm looking forward to that as well.
"I have loved my time in Melbourne, but you can't get emotional about it. It's just life in professional sport."
Last weekend Chambers marked good mate Israel Folau as the Storm sent the Broncos packing.
The meeting had a certain amount of symmetry about it given their first meeting this year - in a trial match between Melbourne and Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast - served as the starting point in the rebuilding of Chambers' career.
Groomed to replace Melbourne's former Test centre Matt King at the start of the 2008 season, Chambers was just finding his feet when in round 10 his knee buckled and he was sent for a reconstruction.
"At the start of the year I just wanted to make the side again," Chambers said.
Coming back from the knee, I had a bit of ground to make up. I didn't have the best start but the coach kept faith in me, and was very positive helping me get through it and rebuild some confidence. That took time, just getting used to playing again.
"I hadn't played footy for nine months. As a kid you play all the time and then all of a sudden it gets taken away and it really makes you realise what it means to you.
"I had some doubts there for a while, but since that first trial game against the Broncos it has slowly come back to me."
The Storm were not the only ones disappointed to see Chambers switch codes, with the powerful centre part of Queensland's Emerging Origin squad last year.
"It's disappointing to see Will go," Queensland coach Mal Meninga said.
"We thought he had a bit to offer at the next level. He seems to be enjoying his football at the moment, but obviously he has his reasons for going to union."
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...003409,00.html