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Melbourne Storm is fast becoming favourites to win the 2011 premiership after an amazing victory over Parramatta last night.
With fellow title contenders Manly-Warringah and St. George/Illawarra slipping up over the weekend, the Storm is making every post a winner.
With the added incentive of sticking it to their detractors, the Storm looks every bit the champion side of years gone by.
It goes to show you that money alone does not win you premierships. Junior development, a will to win, a top class coach and good old hard work that has seen a side knocked to the ground and almost out for the count to return in season 2011 punching for the title once again.
The loss of regular first graders Inglis, Hoffman, Finch, Lima and White at the end of last season not to mention Johnson, Folau and Jeremy Smith the previous year would leave a dent in any teams aspirations of winning a title.
But the Storm have a knack of finding talent at a young age and the rise of Matt Duffie, Justin O’Neill, Jesse Bromwich, Kevin Proctor, Gareth Widdop and Dane Nielsen is what former Newcastle great Andrew Johns would call phenomenal.
With talent like that, you have to take your hat off to the Melbourne Storm. Questions have to be asked, why is there no salary cap exemptions for clubs that develop and nurture their own juniors?
I will tell you why; Sydney clubs would have died several years ago if it were the case,and Sydney clubs are a protected species.
But enough about Sydney clubs. If Melbourne can go all the way it will be one of Sports greatest achievements in that not many sporting teams can take the barrage of criticism and scandal that rock them last season and come back from it. I
t goes to show what true champions Bellamy, Smith, Blair, Cronk and Slater are. These guys are the backbone of team and no doubt have a massive influence on any new players that come into the system.
Last nights win puts Melbourne four points clear of rivals Manly-Warringah with five rounds to go. The Dragons have dropped to 5th and will reclaim their title of the chokers if they lose this Friday to West Tigers.
The team that most of the so-called experts wrote off at the beginning of the year is up the top again.
Although there is still over two months of footy to play, the mix of class and youth is paying off for the Storm and I can’t see any of the remaining contenders knocking them off come October.
I am not a Melbourne Storm supporter but nothing would make me happier for the players and staff that are still there, then to see Cameron Smith lift the trophy on the first Sunday in October. What will the Sydneysiders complain about then?
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