All Blacks legend Richie McCaw attends Melbourne Storm training ahead of their NRL preliminary final

  • 22/09/2017
McCaw pictured with Storm captain Cameron Smith.
McCaw pictured with Storm captain Cameron Smith. Photo credit: Twitter/@storm

All Blacks great Richie McCaw has sprung a surprise visit on the defending NRL champion Melbourne Storm.

The legendary flanker was invited to the team's Thursday training session by coach Craig Bellamy, with the squad in the thick of their preparations for the preliminary final against the Brisbane Broncos on Friday night.

The two-time world cup winner had lunch with the players and delivered a few words of motivation as they look to advance to their sixth NRL Grand Final.

The visit was arranged by Storm Chairman Brett Campbell, who owns the management company to which McCaw was once signed.

The club posted a tweet of McCaw alongside Storm and Australia captain Cameron Smith, with the caption reading; "LEGENDARY! An absolute honour to have former All Blacks Captain Richie McCaw at Storm HQ today!"

Melbourne enter the game as strong favourites after bolting to the minor premiership this season, finishing six points clear at the top of the table.

In the other preliminary final, the Sydney City Roosters take on the North Queensland Cowboys to claim a spot in the main event on October 1st.

Newshub.