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Having finally won their first premiership as a joint venture, talk has already started about a Dragons dynasty dominating the NRL for seasons to come.
Although the Dragons will start next season as firm favourites to defend their NRL crown, expect the Melbourne Storm to bounce back and begin a new chapter in their tarnished history with a premiership.
Having undergone a traumatic season where premierships, points and pride were ruthlessly taken away, the Storm defence were ranked only behind the Dragons in points conceded in 2010 – a sure sign of the belief and commitment of a roster now eager to prove they can come back from the greatest of adversities and win a premiership in the space of 12 months.
The fact that Melbourne still managed to win 14 matches whilst playing for nothing this year just shows the character and professionalism of a club that on its day, is still unrivalled when it comes to intensity and execution.
The Storm’s Good Friday victory against the Dragons earlier this season proved why they were still on top of the pecking order.
In a classic, grinding match in Melbourne, the Storm absorbed everything the Dragons threw at them and then cracked the game open with some Cooper Cronk/Billy Slater magic late in proceedings.
Such a performance suggested a remarkable fifth straight Grand Final appearance would not be out of the question for a Storm outfit which was still setting the pace in regards to consistency.
Of course, history now tells us that Melbourne ended up finishing in last position on the ladder after their role in the biggest salary cap scandal to rock Australian sport.
While the Sydney Roosters effort to make the Grand Final this season after obtaining the wooden spoon a year earlier was impressive, the Storm possess a wonderful opportunity to go one better.
Having now lost key players Greg Inglis, Brett White, Ryan Hoffman, Brett Finch, Jeff Lima and Aiden Tolman due to salary cap pressure, Melbourne face an almighty task to replicate an era which saw them make four straight Grand Final appearances for two premiership victories.
However, one will always be willing to back a Storm side which still counts with the keys to their past success.
The terrific trio of Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk will provide a wonderful foundation for coach Craig Bellamy to build yet another formidable outfit capable of re-capturing lost glory.
Young players such as Jesse Bromwich, Matthew Duffie, Luke Kelly, Rory Kostjasyn, Justin O’Neill, Kevin Proctor and Gareth Widdop will all become fine first graders under the guidance of Bellamy, with O’Neill in particular a sure bet to fill the massive boots left by Inglis.
With the Storm’s salary cap woes now apparently behind them, it is imperative that the club starts next season well in a bid to rebuild a brand which many doubted would survive five months ago.
Indeed the Bulldogs themselves won a premiership just two seasons after being stripped of all competition points in 2002, for their part in what had been the NRL’s biggest salary cap scandal.
Don’t be surprised if the Melbourne Storm achieve premiership glory in half the time.