Commentators continue to opine about the brittle edge defence of the Storm. Is it possible that the bubble has burst?
But I don’t agree that this is the Storm’s problem.
“In trying to defend everything he defended nothing.” (Frederick the Great).
Melbourne play a compressed sliding defence. If the defence speed is fast enough, it works 90% of the time … when the other side is under pressure.
So why isn’t it working now?
And what are the problems in attack?
Structured Plays
Against the Panthers, for the second time this season the Melbourne Storm lined up in their structured attack formation. For the second time this season the passes started flowing and the ball went from right to left.
For the second time this season the opposition team was waiting to intercept the ball and run the length of the field to score a try. Against Penrith it was a Billy Slater ball.
In Round 7 it was Gareth Widdop pass.
Thus far this season the Melbourne Storm has limited its use of structured plays to three generic types:
(i) The large backline second man play (ball movement across the park with 2-3 dummy runners) that ends with the centre or winger crashing over to score;
(ii) The quick inside ball around the ruck ala Smith to Cronk back inside to Slater (although Hinchliffe was the target in the game against the Cowboys); and,
(iii) The set up for the second man play but, instead, Cronk plays the dummy runner with a “face ball” sending a large forward crashing over. Players including Kevin Proctor and Sika Manu enjoyed crashing over the line with this play last season.
If the structured plays for which the Storm have become infamous don’t change (or a variation adopted) then the punter will be watching a lot more intercepts and plays shut downs with rushing defence.
At present, the lack of confidence in these set moves has lead to flat play: instead of playing through the opposing team the Storm have contracted Wests Tigers syndrome – playing sideways.
What the Raiders and the Panthers figured out is that you can’t out Storm the Storm by copying what they do but you can try to shut down their attack. The result if that works: they have to resort to scoring off kicks with all the elements of luck and chance involved.
Last Play Option and Kicking
Last round the Storm finished their “come back” against the Raiders with a woeful option from Gareth Widdop off the back of a scrum feed. The kick sailed straight to Edrick Lee and the Raiders maintained their hoodoo against the Storm in Melbourne.
Widdop’s kick may have been the antithesis of Jarryd Hayne’s freakish field goal against the unlucky Broncos this round.
It was a panic kick.
Apart from the odd wayward kick like that of Widdop’s, Smith and Cronk are two of the best kickers in the game and repeatedly prove that every week. But who are they kicking to/for?
Matt Duffie, who had freakish success last year off Cronk kicks, is languishing on the sidelines. The reason: poor defence in a sole game against the Broncos.
Waqa can contest but his counter part, Fonua, is lacking in the kick contest department comparatively.
With an opposition player or three always ghosting Slater it is for the wingers that Cronk has to look, as he did last year with Matt Duffie.
Drop Balls
Mahe Fonua was responsible for two turn overs for drop balls against the Panthers. He was also responsible for two drop balls against the Raiders both in great field position for the Raiders.
The completion rate of the Storm, as a result of drop balls, is woeful (about 50% in the first half against the Panthers).
Fonua is marvellous in bringing back the ball to begin a set and reminds the spectator of a young Matt Utai, stocky, strong and great at bringing the ball back.
No doubt Bellamy hoped to emulate the Greg Inglis/Israel Folau effect – the other side kick, Slater returns (tackle 1), Inglis takes it up (tackle 2), Folau takes it up (tackle 3) – your opponent is already tired from tackling these big powerful centres and your forwards get a break.
It doesn’t work if someone drops the ball and gifts the other side field possession.
Get In Front
The Storm have written the instruction manual in past years of how to get in front and stay in front. Defending a lead, unsurprisingly, seems easier for the Storm than defending a deficit and then having to trundle up the other end of the field to try and level it up or get in front.
Getting in front involves attacking.
I hope they re-learn how to attack soon. Preferably before Monday’s game against the Sea Eagles.
Jasmin
Guest
Duffie out for the season.
daniel p
Guest
A good article. I and all the storm fans I know have been expecting a drop off in performance due to the interrupted pre season so not a major worry at the moment but it's definitely time for bellyache to show why he was chased so heavily pre season.
Marldon
Guest
Flat periods are often for weeks at a time and I agree with you, they have been flat since round 1. That said, it is ominous that they were able to lift against the bunnies.
bbt
Guest
Matt Duffie was relegated after Broncos' game but is now out injured. Should be back Round 12, I believe.
Matt
Guest
Didn't Storm lose to Penrith last year? Either that, or they were the team the storm FINALLY beat to break their drought. I remember there were some super dodgy teams that they lost to. Not really - Manly aren't travelling that well of late. Someone has to lose, it's not season over for whoever does.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Colin, I am not sure who you support but regardless you clearly know your League and have provided a very detailed explanation as to what has occurred in recent matches with the Storm. It is always easy to identify weaknesses in a side but to execute against those weaknesses is another thing. The Raiders who have a fairly decent record against the Storm have always troubled them and given their recent form you could have expected a loss from the Storm. As up and down as the Panthers have been this season they have shown that even without some of their best players any team is capable of beating the Storm and also capable of winning any day. There have been plenty of blow outs this season so far, more than I can recall in previous seasons but with only nine rounds having been played and Origin fast approaching I don't believe anything is a certainty at the moment. The Storm despite what has occurred in the past are not invincible and are prone to losing, that is football. Two losses and some nervous matches have provided the whole competition with hope, but don't be mistaken, the Storm are not out of this by a long shot. They've only lost TWO matches all season and two out of their last 17. That too me says more than anything. If anyone seriously believed that Storm would continue this way forever without showing weaknesses that require work then it wouldn't be called Sport! Id give anything just for the Broncos to win four in a row, so two losses? Nothing alarming yet.
planko
Roar Guru
Ok that excuse kinda worked for Canberra but Penrith ? I agree with you about flat periods but I think they have been flat all year except for Souths. They were lucky to beat the warriors and with their best players out/under the pump from SOO they cannot afford to drop 5 like last year. I just think losing against Penrith has brought their form into focus and I think they need a win against Manly at home to prove it was a flat period or just their new reality.
bbt
Guest
Spot on!
Marldon
Guest
One of the problems with the Storm is that every team lifts when they play them. Its like a test to show that you have really got what it takes or some sort of mini grand final in which the team that knocks them over gains a sort of Kudos for that. Its also true that every team goes flat for periods and when that happens for the storm then any team can beat them because they have all brought their 'A' game. The thing is that this sort of intensity throughout the season only makes the Storm stronger come finals time. If every team lifted against you during the season then what they gonna do come September ? When the Storm lift in intensity come finals time, there are then very few that can find an extra gear.
Renegade
Guest
The storm are a big game team with big game players....i'm sure they will still be there when it counts. In my opinion, i believe they've been sub par since round 1.
Sideline Commentator
Guest
Great article Colin. A very succinct and intelligent analysis of the Storm's game plans. I've learnt something today, haha.
planko
Roar Guru
I agree they are a great team and in with a shot this year. I still think they need to win on monday night though.
Matt
Guest
From memory they were undefeated, lost 5 in a row, then were undefeated. They had 15 wins in a row, that's a huge effort. They haven't been that good this year, understandable as it's hard to torch teams week in and week out. You get tired and lose momentum eventually. At the end of the day, the last 5-10 games are where the winner will be determined. As long as you make the 8, the first half of the season is irrelevant. Broncos were dominant pre origin, and they scraped in the 8 and were bundled out first week.
Nathan a.k.a. Acorn
Guest
the Storm are like a casino. yeah you might get some cheap wins here and there, but at the end of the day, the house always wins. we'll see who's worked them out come september
planko
Roar Guru
You are correct but they need everything to go their way. They need that top 3 in form and obviously not injured. If I was a storm supporter I would be hoping that some of these 3 players start thinking about retiring from Rep football or you can find work elsewhere as they all turn 30 this calender year. They lost 5 in row around SOO time. If they do that again they may not make the 8. Matt I think this Monday's game is critical for the storm to send a message to the rest of the comp that the title holders are to be respected.
Matt
Guest
They lost 5 in a row late last year. Then won the competition.