With all the talk of experience, consistency, and attacking weapons that are possessed by the Broncos and the Eels, it seems that in the short attention span of the league media, one week out of sight truly does put a side out of mind.
Toiling away in the forgotten southern State is a side who, as minor premiers and grand finalists over the past three years, have been a more constant fixture at Homebush than the Stadium’s name.
Yes, this is a side which has lost the likes of the mercurial Israel Folau and timeless hard man Mick Crocker.
But Melbourne are the grizzled cage fighter. They don’t need to beat you from start to finish, they just need an opening to land that one vicious blow that changes the momentum of the match.
As brilliant as Hayne has proven to be this year when provided with space, Greg Inglis, for me, is still the number one player in the league at creating his own space with his footwork and fend.
As such, he gives Melbourne the rare ability to still land scoring punches against a quality opponent that is on the front foot.
Combine Inglis with the playmaking flexibility offered up by the forgotten Billy Slater, who two weeks ago surgically dissected the Manly defence playing in his preferred roll as a third half, and Melbourne retains the attacking flexibility which has given it the ability to stay in matches.
In the other corner we have Brisbane.
For all of that has been made of their performance last week, it was merely sufficient, but not inspiring. It took the men from up north almost three quarters of the match to subdue an opponent who gifted them field position and possession time and time again with unforced errors.
On the front foot with the momentum on their side, they’ve proven to be good enough to win. But you look back at the teams which have held aloft the trophy aloft the last two years.
Those two sides put faltering opponents to the sword ruthlessly and efficiently, providing no room for a comeback whereas, Brisbane left the door ajar last week.
It is because of Melbourne’s ability to not play well, but still have the means to score points, combined with Brisbane’s apparent inability to brutalise a stunned opponent on the scoreboard, that I think we’ll be seeing the boys in Purple make their familiar trip back north for the October long weekend.
Maybe then people will remember they are still in the competition.
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