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Storm forward Tohu Harris was immense against the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium.

Given he played five-eighth eight days ago, was named in the centres, started in the second row and then reverted back to the centres at half-time it's little wonder Storm forward Tohu Harris remembers little of his tackle that kept the Cowboys at bay.

Holding the slenderest of one-point leads in the dying minutes of Saturday evening's clash at Suncorp Stadium, the Storm were exposed on their right edge by another cleverly crafted Cowboys set piece.

It put winger Antonio Winterstein into space 10 metres out from the Storm try-line with little defence in sight, a glancing blow from fullback Cameron Munster providing enough time for Harris to swoop and stop him centimetres from the line.

It was typical of the Storm's overall performance as they repelled repeated Cowboys attacks to win 15-14 and added another highlight to a player who has been an unsung hero in their 8-2 start to the season.

 


As coach Craig Bellamy has seen an entire three-quarter line wiped out through injury he has turned to Harris time and again and it was the 24-year-old Kiwi international who again came to their rescue.

Even if he has little recollection of what happened.

"I don't even remember the play. Everyone's asking about it and I can't really remember it," Harris told NRL.com.

"I was just doing my job. The team needs me to do my job and that's just a part of it, putting the effort in. I was lucky enough to be able to get there before he got it down."

Storm coach Craig Bellamy was a little more effusive in his praise, highlighting that type of effort as the cornerstone of a start to the year that has them equal with the Broncos on top of the table through 10 rounds.

"When [Winterstein] got the ball and he was on the outside I was hoping Munster might have been able to pull off a half-miracle but for Tohu to get there was pretty special in itself," Bellamy said.

"He's not an overly quick guy but he reads things really well so that probably gave him a little head start to get there.

"That was certainly a really special play at a really critical time of the game.

"That's what's held us in stead this year. If you're going to defend well you obviously need some good structures and some good processes in place but you need effort.

"The amount of effort these guys are putting in – hopefully they can keep it up – but to turn up each week mentally and physically to do it is not that easy but that's where these guys have been a real standout.

"We're playing the premiers and the side leading the competition at the moment – and I didn't think we had much go our way in other areas as well – so it was a tremendous win and I'm really proud of them."

Although he was named in the centres the return of Marika Koroibete on the wing allowed Harris to revert back to his preferred position in the back row before a calf injury to Ben Hampton forced yet another reshuffle.

Whether Harris is once again named in the centres on Tuesday or new recruit Ryan Morgan is slotted in remains to be seen but Harris insists his preparation is not overly affected by the constant chopping and changing.

"I've just got to prepare the best I can," said Harris.

"It doesn't matter where I play, I've just got to go out there and do my best and if I get put in a different position I've just got to adjust as quick as I can.

"I've done it a fair bit now so I'm getting used to it. Still got to do the best I can in whatever position I'm playing."

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