Much of the speculation coming out of the Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal has been about what the players will do now they have nothing to play for.
The problem with that is it’s not up to anyone else other than the players themselves to decide what they have to play for.
After seeing them re-enact the scene from ‘Reservoir Dogs’ yesterday with their epic Hollywood emergence from the sheds at their new home ground, it’s clear to me that they have plenty to play for – maybe even more than the other fifteen teams in the competition.
Even though the NRL premiership is no longer a motivation, the Storm now has one colossal incentive: existence. It may be that I am overestimating the camaraderie of the Storm as there may be players that are tempted to put personal finances above the team, but the way they have played over the last four to five years, along with their war-faced appearance at AAMI Park, suggests that the Storm’s sense of mateship is strong. No team would achieve what the Storm has without it.
The Storm’s financial situation and its now hostile relationship with News Limited means that the biggest battles will be off the field. In all reality the odds are stacked against Melbourne, but Australians love an underdog and I bet the Storm players would relish the new title.
The Storm players are the ones who truly know where their loyalties lie and what their motivations are. Over the past four days their loyalties and motivations will have been tested, but they now have the chance go down in history for a much bigger reason than two NRL premierships.
I believe if they are good enough they will survive. If that’s not something to play for then I don’t know what is.
Tom of Brisbane
Guest
All of which just proves my point. Tahu is a rugby league player, not a rugby union player. Many commentators seem to think they are interchangeable but clearly they aren't. Would Wendell and Lote have misbehaved if they had stayed in league? Can't say of course but my feeling is that they were unhappy in RU which contributed to their behaviour issues
zero
Guest
Tom of Brisbane Wendell was banned from all sports for two years because he took cocaine. Lote's contract was torn up by the ARU because he had 3 times broken his contractual obligations in regards to good conduct. Matt Rogers was released early from his ARU/NSW contract because of family problems and his wish to relocate to the Gold Coast. Timana Tahu was released from his ARU contract because he didn't like learning the game and when he did play he was the worst tackler in ARU history (see his performance against the Springboks) and he rarely scored a try because in rugby there are many faster backs and forwards (backrowers). However, it's great that they have all become superstars again and can play RL until they are forty.
Brett Frawley
Roar Rookie
Or if the ARL did it to Jeopardize the independent commission? haha. Will News Limited have to hang around now to get their money back?
captain nemo
Roar Guru
imagine if news ltd put the club and its fans through all of this to put the Storm on the front pages of Australias papers to grow the brand.... ahh no, they wouldn't do that. :)
Tom of Brisbane
Guest
Why does everyone think that Rugby and the AFL are walk-up starts to poach all the Storm stars? If the Rebels are going to hitch their wagon to ex-League stars then their future is shakier than the Storms. Wendell went to Rugby, hated it and came back Lote went to Rugby, hated it and came back Mat Rogers went to Rugby, hated it and came back Timana Tahu went to Rugby, hated it (couldn't even get a game) and came back If Inglis et al wanted to play Rugby or AFL they would have been playing it in the first place. To make it to the top in RL (or any sport for that matter) you have to be playing first and foremost for the love of the game. The code hoppers found out the hard way that the money doesn't make up for not playing the game that you love
Adrian Bauk
Roar Guru
If the Storm play as well as they did last night, I don't think they will lose another game this year. However I do believe Greg Inglis is finished after this season. Rugby Union is where he will be going, for sure!