A new club with few recognised senior players made it hard for Pilcher to get overly excited about the Storm’s prospects.

Looking back on it now, Pilcher has no regrets.

The ruckman will run out for his 100th senior game for the Storm in Saturday’s BFNL grand final against Sandhurst.

“I remember the guys at the club saying that they were after me to be their number one recruit,’’ Pilcher recalled.

“That didn’t give me a lot of confidence because I really hadn’t done a lot.

“I signed early in January and then it wasn’t until about three weeks before the start of the season that Cameron and Brenton Hall and their mate Andrew Thompson signed.

“That gave everyone a big lift and we won a few games in our first season.”

A major reason behind Pilcher joining the Storm was the fact his best mate Jono Gawthrop joined the club.

“Jono Gawthrop and I were captain and vice-captain for the first year and we always told each other we wanted to be part of the Storm’s first premiership,’’ Pilcher said.

“I’m disappointed Jono’s not playing on Saturday. It would have been great to have him part of the side and a chance to win a premiership.”

Gawthrop’s 2014 season has been skittled by training commitments with the Country Fire Authority and he’ll watch on from the sidelines.

 “Lachlan Sharp, Kris Lea and Lachlan Bonney have been part of the club from the start as well, so it means a lot to be playing my 100th game in a grand final alongside those guys.”

Pilcher’s regular opponent against Sandhurst – Tim Martin – has been in the headlines all week as he tries to prove his fitness for the grand final.

Pilcher, a school friend of Martin, hasn’t let the Dragons’ big man’s plight distract him.

“Marto is a good guy and for his sake I hope he can play,’’ Pilcher said.

“If he plays I know what to expect because I’ve played against him a lot.

“If he doesn’t play I’ll probably be up against Matt Thornton most of the time and that’s going to be tough because he’s so athletic.”