Nikau Has A Message for his Mates

Melbourne Storm premiership winner Tawera Nikau has crossed the Tasman to inspire his former clubmates as they seek to emulate the title-winning class of 1999.

Nikau, who lost his right leg following a motorcycle accident last year, was called on to address the 2004 squad recently by coach Craig Bellamy.

The former Kiwis second rower, who played two seasons for the Victorian club, performed a haka and compared the Melbourne players to warriors.

"It was an incredible performance, I certainly wasn't moving from my seat," said prop Robbie Kearns, who was among Nikau's team-mates in 1999.

"We were all together as a team and he told us not to take what we have for granted.

"He said it's no use coming to the end of a season saying, 'we could've won the competition if we'd done this or that'."

Nikau's message is yet to translate into results with the Storm one from four, having lost narrowly to Newcastle, Brisbane and Penrith.

They beat St George Illawarra and are favoured to beat South Sydney at home on Saturday.