As I cleaned up the coloured Easter-egg foil which has got itself into every nook and cranny of the house and reflected on the weekend’s rugby league, one thing is clear: the Storm are the team to beat.
The weekend’s matches started with a bang in Melbourne as the Storm once again underlined their class.
And how that class is being underlined again and again and again. Honestly I’ve been reading (and possibly even writing) the obituary for the Storm’s dominance for years. It is always the same, “yes, they did very well to win/ get to the grand final but the loss of blah blah will prove too much and the chasing pack should reel them in.”
This year was again meant to be one of those years but again the Storm seem to have risen to another level with a team that seems worse on paper than the previous year. I guess it just proves why games aren’t played on paper.
The Storm don’t have a team packed with superstars, they have some superstars and the rest of the roster is filled with very competent and efficient players who know their role and perform it perfectly.
Judging by all other teams I watched this weekend, the Storm are currently miles ahead of the opposition.
On this weekend’s performance only the Tigers could possibly mount a challenge and that’s if they produce their best 30 minutes against the Raiders for 80.
While Friday’s first match was a great game, it wasn’t until the Raiders clashed with the Tigers that the rugby league got my blood pumping and helped with the digestion of the eggs.
The Broncos were woeful against the Roosters and while the Roosters looked an improved side they barely needed to get out of second gear to roll a Brisbane side who look like they’re wooden spoon material on their last two efforts.
I enjoyed the Sharks game for the upset and the fact that the Sharks really put in but I won’t deny it was a game strictly for the purists. 0-0 at halftime, I mean come on!
Parramatta seem to be waiting for Jarryd Hayne to do it all or maybe they are just waiting for the second half of the season, whatever they are doing, they are not making anyone who backed them for the title to be feeling comfortable.
The Cowboys v Titans game was a match in which both sides tried hard to lose with an incredible amount of drop ball, but the Cowboys simply fell over the line. I was stunned with just how much the Titans missed Scott Prince. Preston Campbell looked way off the pace as has Greg Bird all season. They could get a real wake up call over the next two weeks against the Storm and Dragons.
New Zealand v Manly was another game punctuated with errors but also with the most annoying tactic in rugby league. Kicking the ball dead from general play. If people reckon that Trent Hodkinson will fill the void of Matt Orford this season, well dream on.
He is a good defender and if I wanted a bloke to just smash the ball dead at the end of every set I’d give him a shout, but hell’s teeth there must be something more to the game than that. I’m penciling it down as first rule change to be mooted for next year.
I appreciate as well he is not Robinson Crusoe in that regard either but it is certainly a blight on the game.
The Raiders clash with the Tigers game did end the weekend on a high note as the Tigers rode the waves and proved that when you are on a roll things just go your way.
There was the freakish bounce off Alan Tongue’s leg straight into the arms of Robbie Farah for his try and there is no way their last try could have been scored by a team not full of confidence, something would have gone wrong somewhere along the line.
I also cannot remember a crazier end to a game than that match; it was like Salvador Dali had jumped into the commentary box. Surreal.
But when you are hot you are hot. The difference is Melbourne have been hot since 2006 and the Tigers are just finally regaining some heat.
Andy
Guest
"If people reckon that Trent Hodkinson will fill the void of Matt Orford this season, well dream on." 38 tackles 2 ineffective 39m avg for 11 kicks. Hodkinson is not orford but he can only get better, and already is in the long kicking and tackling department. So i disagree with your opinion.
Mr cheese
Guest
"different sporting pedigrees" what does that mean ??? I thought there could be some similarities. Tell me soon because Quins will disappear in the near future !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rod
Roar Guru
Nothing to do with the Storm, two completely different countries with different sporting pedigrees. If you want to write stuff about Quins RL and RL in general in London, do an article.
Mr cheese
Guest
"Expansion" Melbourne, I think, is an Aussie Rules city where they've tried to sell Rugby League. London, I know, is a Football city where they're trying to sell Rugby League. QED
john
Guest
No doubt Slater's a great player, but take away his service from Cronk, Smith, Finch, Inglis etc and he'd be no where near as good. Slater has the good fortune of having a great team around him. Hayne literally does everything for parra. If Slater didnt have the quality around him that he currently has, he'd be no where near as good. I doubt Slater could single handedly guide a b grade team (in respect to halves etc) to a grand final like Hayne did. Hayne does everything for parra, Slater tends to finish off work started by other great players. If Hayne played for the Storm he'd be unbelievable. Having said that, Slater is still obviously a very good player
CJ
Guest
Agree the Storm were very impressive on Friday, moreso as said when you take into account the absences of Hoffman, White and Manu. Hoffman in particular is a huge loss for the Storm - his damaging running on the left edge takes so much pressure off Inglis and really allows that man to shine. I'm sure Hoffman's absence isn't helping Inglis find his own best form -watch for him to explode when Hoffman is back there to draw some more defence his way. I also think Chase Stanley will slot into the side when he is fit and firing, and will make the right hand attack more potent. The Storm are looking good things already for 2010, and I honestly think only a side who plays with the flamboyance of a Tigers, Eels (if they switch on) etc. could beat them - sides like the Dragons, who play a similar dour style, will never beat the Storm when it matters. On the big occasions they are more disciplined, more controlled and more brilliant.
Rod
Roar Guru
What is the world do Quins RL have to do with the Melbourne Storm?
Karlos
Guest
Google it if you want to know.
AGO74
Guest
1,6,7 & 9 - the most important positions in the team and the only 'weak link' in that is Brett Finch who has played 100's of games as well as SOO, he's not exactly a weak link. Smith, Slater and Inglis - 3 of the best players in the world. Everyone raves about Hayne but give me Slater any day. He has been doing it for years, Hayne half a season. That's why Melbourne are so good and so long as that core remain, they will contend every year for the forseeable future. Hayne looked completely disinterested on saturday night. Save for a horrifically forward pass against Manly, Parra would be 0-4 and dead last. I know Parra is a slow starter but something not right there.
Mr cheese
Guest
The Melbourne Storm are used, I suppose, as the example which Harlequins RLFC want to follow. There have been more stories over here about how serious the problems are at Quins RLFC ( which is the London franchise in the Super League ). As I understand it, the Storm show that it takes quite a few years and you still don't get many fans in the stadium. I am not convinced that Rugby League will ever attract decent crowds in London. What's it like in Melbourne ?????
alan nicolea
Guest
Steve Indeed Melbourne look like doing it comfortably in the Premiership this season despite it being early days. They have won four straight matches to start the season and are yet to have Greg Inglis firing, nor are they yet to welcome the inclusions of Ryan Hoffman, Sika Manu and Brett White into the squad. It seems the Storm missing out on a finals series is like saying Federer will not make the last four of a Grand Slam. They are just so consistent and tough.