I had the privilege this week of spending a few days in Melbourne with the Storm and their coaching staff and it was a revelation to see just how much has changed in the four years since I last coached in the NRL.
I don’t mean on the ground, more off the field, where it was noticeable how much emphasis teams place these days on Sports Science, an area that wasn’t anywhere near as prominent a few years back.
The Storm have one of the biggest off field teams in the game, and seeing it at work, you can understand why they’ve been so successful over the past 7 years or so.
In fact, over that time period, they’ve made either the Grand Final or the Preliminary Final match every time – a feat that no other club can match.
It’s just a very well run organisation, headed up by arguably the finest coach in the game.
The time I spent there amongst the players and staff has twisted my arm a bit away from Manly as being my pick for the title and towards the Storm, who are looking super sharp and ready for the big games ahead.
That said, it’s great to see that the top four teams at the end of the competition proper are still in the race for the premiership. It’s a testament to the new finals structure which has rewarded the more consistent performers over the duration of the season.
The success this season, too, of clubs like the Bulldogs and Souths, neither of whom even made the finals last year, is a reflection on the impact of the salary cap. The effect it is having in creating a competition which is pretty equal and allows all teams a reasonable chance of winning it is a big positive. I should also mention the addition of new coaches Des Hasler and Michael Maguire to each side as well.
Contrast that to the EPL in England, which is consistently dominated by the same Big Four clubs.
The level playing field of the NRL has really kept this season interesting.
As for the matches this weekend, no revelation here: they will all be tight.
But I’m tipping the Storm to get up over Manly and Canterbury to get past the Rabbitohs, making it a Storm vs Bulldogs grand final, and pitting two of the great coaches in the game head to head.
Stu
Guest
Steve b. I have to listen to the top politicians in this country recycle catch phrases, rhetoric and one liners. Can you at least re-word or get creative with your "cheat" comments. I know oikee is an easy target :) but seriously "yawn"... ...I've read the same drivel on every storm post, get creative my friend, you are a regular commentator and it is frankly beneath you to act like a politician recycling the same gripe and comment every time the storm have a post :) P.S. read Malcom Knox's article in the Sydney Morning Herald from this weekend about Stormland. It is...different...maybe some inspiration to replace "hope the cheaters lose" or the like.
Easts
Guest
Have you heard of Hodges yes he is a grub but is the 2nd best centre behind Lyon
Easts
Guest
Im glad Storm cheated because it prevented the flukes of 09 not getting a premiership. Also if you tried to argue with an Eels fan theyll always bring u The topic whos the team out of Eels and Roosters to get a title and theyd bring up 09. Eels deserve to suck and thats the waycit should be. Its a great thing really. I also hope Raiders start challenging again theyre a likeable side unlike Manly, Tigflukes, Bulldogs(but I admit how so entertaining they are im starting to like them) and lol@Eels who have stolen the lol@ from Souffs who are now a respectable team Next year Roosters will be back and Storm will hopefully win a title and shove it up everyones faces. The great thing about the Storm is they offer so much to the game unlike Eels. Without the Storm it would be boring. Theyre my 3rd team. I have alot of respect for them and how they turn average players into superstars. In fact they deserve it this year. I hope they win good on you Storm
oikee
Guest
Good call Brownie, i was already collecting at half time, i callled it. You have to sit back and admire the work of the big three, Cooper Cronk Cam Smith and Seeya later Slater. Mate, the game has never seen such professional players, world class cutting edge players who train for perfection. Poor old Manly who are really overweight rockmonsters, got totally whipped by a team light-years ahead of their training practise and plays. The scary thing is, they can improve, wait until they find another Greg Inglis or Isreal Falou. Mate, the sky is the limit.
Meesta Cool
Guest
it needs to be watched.. just look at comments on other RL forums. This is great!.
Meesta Cool
Guest
Geez I can't believe that you guys let Oiks suck you in every time... he must have a ball sitting at his puter with bundie in hand, composing hos next anti NSW comments.. -- I loike this guy, he brightens up this forum..
Droppa
Guest
Million dollar players & two bob refs..thats the NRL today.
Droppa
Guest
"I built it Matt. " & obviously it watch like a hawk
Manly Man
Guest
Sleemo well done mate great comment I also live in Brisbane and I was at the game when we won in the last ten seconds I just watched the faces of the Brisbane supporters who had given me the finger and swore at me for eighty mins when we won It was amazing -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
RebelRanger
Guest
100% agree. This is the point I try to explain to everyone
Rabby
Guest
The one thing that you have to remember about the salary cap is that is was designed purely to stop rich clubs from poaching all the best talent. That is something that the storm have never done in fact it was quite the reverse, the storm were a victim of their own success and ended up cheating to retain players it had developed. In other words to stop other clubs from poaching their talent. When tackled on this point by Phil Gould, Gallop had no answer, he was flumoxed, he probably never even realised that that was the case. No wonder he got booed and rightly so. Incidently, unless you are a sharks supporter, how long is it since your club last cheated ? Perhaps storm fans should preface every comment with "The Cheating XXXXXX" where XXXXXX stands for any club in the NRL ?
NF
Guest
For once I do agree with oikee I don't like Manly either there supporters are too scared to cross a bridge compared to Cowboys supporters who travel far and wide to go to REGULAR season games. I hope the Storm demolish Manly by 24+ tonight.
JonD
Guest
The Storm are a phenomonal team. Sure they were cheating the salary cap and so I don't think there was any choice but to take away their premierships but they've proven in recent years just how good they are. I'm hoping they go all the way. Also as others have mentioned they need more support form the NRL. Such a professional, likeable and successful club should be able achieve some kind of RL growth in Melbourne.
Sleemo
Guest
The pendulum will turn in the future, that's the nature of the game, it goes in cycles...so what? Haha we've won without Lyon in the past when he's been injured and we will in the future. He'll retire in a few years, him not playing rep footy worked out great for Manly. I think it's a bit rich from a Broncos fan to say how hopeless a team is when they're missing players, considering how much Lockyer carried you blokes over the last five years, last year's prelim final and this year showing how much of a one-man team you were. HAHAHA old and crockity, you have to be kidding right. Average age of the squad 25.5. Only four players over 30. 16 players under 25. Key players (Stewarts, Matai, Lyon, Foran, Cherry-Evans, Ballin, Wamough, Buhrer) all except Lyon have been re-signed and are under 30, key halves only 22 and 23. We have at least 2-3 good years left with our squad and most are at or nearing their prime. Hardly “old and crockitty” champ. Manly haven't gotten the spoon in 66 years of footy, don't think we'll be getting it anytime soon.
Bring Back the Bears
Guest
I love your anti-Manly rants oikee, please keep it up.
Zac Zavos
Editor
I built it Matt. It handles 500,000 people and almost 40,000 comments each month across mobile, iPhone and web. Not sure what you saw, but I suppose from time to time small things get through when you get this traffic. Welcome you pointing it out directly via the Contact Us page.
oikee
Guest
Knock Knock. !
planko
Roar Guru
What is gold Oikee when Brisbane finally get a good centre Lyon will retire and we will buy him ... Cause he takes a chunk of our cap life is good. Manly will always be there just to anoy you...
Matt
Guest
Nothing like some money to spread a crazy myth
planko
Roar Guru
Matt I remember 1999 very clearly really good money about for 2000 bug. It was going to stop the world Y2k. It was gold for IT contractors .... God the money that was about then mate ... Makes pre GFC look silly. Seriously when I think about 1998 and 1999 I get half a chubby...