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If it feels like every NRL season I proclaim that we shouldn’t rule out the Melbourne Storm for the premiership, there is a very good reason: I do pump up the Storm every year.
This year is no different, as the Storm are a serious contender to be playing at ANZ Stadium on Sunday, October 4, and every chance of winning as well.
In fact, I find it amusing and bemusing that some people don’t think the Storm can win the competition this year.
Melbourne are not far removed from their last premiership – a 14-4 win over the Bulldogs in 2012 – and in coach Craig Bellamy and stars Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater, they retain the brains trust and spine from that winning team.
Yet, for some strange reason, many people overlooked them as a serious threat this season, with pre-season premiership predictions mainly focussed on the Rabbitohs, Roosters, Bulldogs and Cowboys.
The primary concern with the Storm is that they’re too old, yet this argument doesn’t carry much weight. Smith, Cronk and Slater are all just 31 years of age, which is the prime of their careers, rather than over the hill.
Slater has had some injury concerns over the last season or two, and there is no question that the physicality of the game will eventually take its toll on his relatively small frame. However it’s a bit early to declare his play is in decline – it certainly didn’t appear so earlier in the year.
Meanwhile, Smith and Cronk have been at their precise, detailed and executional best, leading the Storm around the park in the clinical fashion we’ve all grown accustomed to when watching the men in purple play.
All in all, the Storm are still fortunate enough to roll out three of the best players in rugby league, despite any apprehensions about their somewhat advanced age.
In America they’re fond of the saying ‘Father Time is undefeated’, but I don’t think the Storm’s Big Three are too old just yet, even allowing for the extra games they’ve played, courtesy of representative football honours.
Bellamy is also one of the best coaches in the competition, as evidenced by how well prepared the Storm are each and every week, along with their penchant for playing to their strengths – and their opponents’ weaknesses – in almost every single game.
The Storm have three superstars and are extremely well coached; which will always be an extremely dangerous combination.
Yet don’t make the mistake of believing that’s all the Storm are, for it’s the players outside the names I’ve already mentioned that should give Melbourne fans confidence that their boys are ready to add another premiership trophy to their impressive cabinet.
(Enter your salary cap gibes here.)
Melbourne’s depth of quality players has always been questioned, but Bellamy has traditionally been able to take players that other teams didn’t want, and make them valuable contributors to the Storm.
Jason Ryles, anyone?
Having watched the Storm play this season though, it’s not a case of them running out a number of players rescued off the scrap heap. The supporting cast includes representative players like Jesse Bromwich, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Will Chambers, Kevin Proctor and Tohu Harris.
Meanwhile, there are a number of talented youngsters who have really found their feet this season. Jordan McLean (23), Cameron Munster (20), Dale Finucane (23) and Felise Kaufusi (22) have all had very good games for the Storm. Though Melbourne’s star core will be almost impossible to replace, it’s always heartening to have young players performing.
Even rampaging, in-form winger Marika Koroibete – he of the 95-metre try against the Cowboys, and 80-metre try against the Warriors – is still just 22 years of age.
Perhaps I’m stuck in a time warp, but I even think ex-Kangaroos prop Tom Learoyd-Lahrs still has serious NRL impact left in him. After all, if anyone can help write another chapter in the big forward’s career, it’s Bellamy.
Talent, depth, experience and youth. Exactly what every club desires, and exactly what Melbourne has.
State of Origin has often put pressure on the club, as they lose a number of their stars during the representative period. Even when said players return, they’re sometimes a little emotionally and physically drained – or even injured – and can therefore take some time to re-adjust to NRL football again.
How the Storm respond to this period will be crucial.
Though with some solid depth this year, combined with the talent of the Big Three and the mastery of their coach, I’d feel pretty comfortable wagering on the Storm to be smiling come the end of the season.