'Can't help but smile': Andrew Johns in awe of 'unpredictable' Storm fullback as Pacific Islands potential laid bare

Andrew Johns has sent a message to the NRL to invest more time into building up the Pacific Islands, as the rise of Sua Faalogo at the Storm continues.

The fleet-footed fullback has shown glimpses over the past couple of years of his undeniable brilliance, but has only just now got the chance to be Melbourne's first-choice No.1 after the surprise retirement of Ryan Papenhuyzen.

In the opening two games of the season, Faalogo has been a true shining light and has played a major role in the Storm's wins over Parramatta and St George Illawarra.

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His hat-trick in the space of 12 minutes to rescue his side against the Dragons was what fans expected to see from his predecessors in Papenhuyzen and Billy Slater.

But according to Craig Bellamy, the highlight-reel plays are only the tip of the iceberg and getting to work alongside Slater has been a blessing.

"He's been impressive during the trials and two games, but it's probably the little things that people don't notice I've been more impressed with," Bellamy said on Thursday.

"We all know how quick he is and how hard he is to tackle … but there's a few other little things there that we see as important with our fullbacks.

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"He's really learning there and working hard to improve. Billy's great with him and obviously there's not too many better mentors as a fullback than Billy Slater.

"He's very fortunate there Sua … he's going in every time he meets Billy and learning something else or getting that encouragement." 

Storm skipper Harry Grant was cautious when asked about Faalogo during the week, urging fans to "not have any expectations" - but it's hard not to get excited.

One of the 23-year-old's biggest admirers early in his career is Johns, who has been left in awe of Faalogo's ability to deceive defenders and light up a stadium.

"He's unpredictable and it looks like he's playing in the park in Samoa," Johns said on Wide World Of Sports' Immortal Behaviour this week.

"He's lightning quick, he's unpredictable - but he's still learning his game and learning the players around him … he's just so raw. 

"They are an amazing club, they educate their young players coming through and they know the DNA and how they play and coach the positions to play a certain style.

"Once they come into first grade, they slip into that structure."

Johns then used Faalogo's background - born in Samoa, moving to Victoria and finding his way into the Storm system - as proof of how much growth there still is for the game and room to develop players from outside Australia and New Zealand.

"Someone told me that when he first came out to Australia, I don't know when it was, but at home they would just speak Samoan and he had to understand how to speak English and probably learn," Johns said.

"You'd have to understand if you're in team meetings and Bellyache is spitting everywhere and doing whatever, he'd be sitting there thinking, what is he talking about?

"But it's an amazing story and it goes to show that over in the islands like Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands, they've gotta invest more there.

"Look at Kelma Tuilagi too, he was born in Samoa and he's killing it for Parramatta.

"I love watching Sua play, he's a ball of energy and one of those players that when he gets the ball, you can't help but smile."

The comments from Johns comes as the NRL celebrates its annual Multicultural Round, bringing to the forefront the incredible diversity in the sport.

Faalogo will line up at the back in Friday night's grand final rematch against Brisbane.