They have been the dominant team of the last decade, but this year’s failed premiership defence could spell the beginning of the end of the Melbourne Storm’s time at the top of the NRL.
Exiting in the second week of the finals marked their worst finals effort since 2005 – excluding 2010, when they were stuck to the foot of the standings for most of the year – as their premiership defence was uncharacteristically ended in September.
It will leave questions needing to be asked, one being whether the Storm can contend for another premiership with the playing roster which they have had to rebuild since being torn apart by the salary cap scandal three years ago.
The Storm’s resurgence from a broken and dispirited team to a champion team was undoubtedly one of the feelgood stories of the NRL. They not only won back a premiership that the players felt was wrongfully taken away from them, but also won back the respect of the NRL community.
On the latter point, after the Storm were pinged for cheating the salary cap in 2010, they were snubbed by Channel Nine for all of the second half of the season.
It would be 366 days until they gained free-to-air exposure again, when they overcame the loss of their State of Origin contingent to defeat the South Sydney Rabbitohs by 16-6 at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
And it wasn’t until Round 20 that year that they would once again feature on the Friday night stage – an opportunity they relished by defeating bitter rivals the Brisbane Broncos by 26-6.
Their impressive resurgence in 2011 saw the club finish with its first valid minor premiership. It would not, however, translate into a grand final berth, after they lost to the New Zealand Warriors in the penultimate weekend.
Some questioned whether they still had the motivation and hunger to win the premiership with the squad they were left with after the mass exodus in the wake of the salary cap scandal.
That question was answered emphatically in 2012. They won their first nine games of the season and, despite slipping up almost immediately after, their premiership aspirations were never in doubt as they went one better than the previous year’s effort.
Their class was there for all to see in the grand final, as they survived a scoreless second half to defeat the Bulldogs 14-4 in the premiership decider, in the process ending two long and painful years of trying to rebuild their club’s image.
The grand final victory was the eighth match in a club-record 15-match winning streak, which continued into the first seven rounds of this season.
Which is what brings me to the review of the Storm’s failed premiership defence this year.
After seven straight victories to start the season, it seemed a mere formality that the Storm would be headed to yet another premiership, but it would not be.
They won only four of their next 11 games, as the State of Origin period robbed the reigning premiers of the skeleton that is Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk.
Their absence was felt severely as the Storm were thrashed 39-0 by the Bulldogs, the same team they defeated to win the 2012 premiership.
That came just a week after they had maintained a clean sheet against the Brisbane Broncos at home.
It was also the first time they had been blanked out in a match since the 2008 grand final, when they lost to the Sea Eagles 40-0.
Their premiership credentials then came into question after a Round 20 away loss to the Warriors, but as they have always done in the past, the Storm would answer their critics back in a hard way.
The Canberra Raiders felt the brunt of the Storm’s anger the following round, as Craig Bellamy’s men inflicted some capital punishment on the Green Machine, scoring an embarrassingly easy 68-4 victory at Canberra Stadium.
Four victories from their final five matches followed the Canberra rout, including a 64-4 thrashing handed out to wooden spooners Parramatta– this coming after they had coughed up the first try of the game).
Their impressive form saw them finish third on the ladder behind the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs, and it seemed their September experience would come to the fore again.
The Storm were always on the back foot against the Rabbitohs in their qualifying final – something of a surprise given the Storm had beaten Michael Maguire’s men in the two meetings during the regular season.
But the reality was that not only were the Bunnies keen to reverse those two losses to the Storm this year, they had also learnt their lesson from last year’s loss in the corresponding final. The home crowd support also helped.
This left the Storm needing to beat Newcastle in their semi-final to keep their premiership defence alive.
The Storm were unable to keep up with the Knights’ style of play in the semi-finals, becoming the first team to crash out of the finals in straight sets under the finals system that was put into effect last year.
Now the Storm, minus their representative core of players who are in England preparing for the World Cup, must ponder a summer of what could have been – and whether their time at the top is up.
Their 2014 season might be made harder by the fact that Cameron Smith could potentially play his final season for the club he has gracefully represented since 2002, through the dark times to the emphatic highs.
Smith and Billy Slater will turn 31 on the very same day next June, while Brett Finch and Jason Ryles are lost to retirement.
English five-eighth Gareth Widdop is bound for St George Illawarra, while Maurice Blair and Lagi Setu are off to the Gold Coast and Canberra respectively.
The club has, however, signed George Rose from the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, but that appears their only major signing apart from some fringe players from Penrith and the Cowboys.
I have no doubt the Storm will continue to be successful in the years to come, but they will inevitably lose their aura – as the Brisbane Broncos and St George Illawarra have before them.
Slater and Smith are both on the wrong side of 30, while Cooper Cronk will turn 31 by the end of next season.
Let’s just hope though that they do go around for another two-to-three years as they try to keep the Storm where they belong – at the top of the competition.
Owen
Guest
Yeh mate, because that is exactly the same
I'mastormtrooper2
Guest
Since he commenced playing in the NRL, Gareth has been at the Storm supported and surrounded by a world class coach and world class players - Without a doubt he did show plenty of class whilst there... Do you think he is individually brilliant enough to hold his own ??? If not, who do the Dragon's have in their back line who will be of the same quality support he has been privileged with at the Storm ??? Infact, there are few former Storm players who have gone on to bloom, grow and find greater success then they did during their tenure playing with the noted and representative players at the Storm ... Personally, I don't believe Widdop (24) to be any more knowledgable or skillful a player then Nathan Fien who retired this year at (34) ... Fien represented Queensland and NZ ... Gareth has represented England ... It will be interesting to watch Gareth's performance in 2014 - It may make or break him.
Hayden
Guest
I hope Gareth Widdop brings some spark to the dragons 2014 after the dragons dissapointing season ever since i have suppurted them 2014 year of the dragons
Muzz
Guest
Storm now have a new challenge.With the big 3 not quite the players they once were yet still command more than half the salary cap leaving the other 22 players earning peanuts.Its hard to lure new talent when all you can offer them is 100k per season. Ironic really if money could become an issue once again.
I'mastormtrooper2
Guest
AND, Manly haven't been pinged for breaching the Salary Cap ??? PLEASE ... It is what it is !!! And, no team or player is beyond reproach ... At least be fair dinkum ... I noticed you didn't mention "drugs in sport" :-/ ... Money doesn't maketh the man nor the player - We see it every year ... Big Star - Big Dollars = Lack of Performance ... New Recruit, - Face of League - Dally M Player of the Year - New Contract - Lack of Performance, Professionalism and Behaviour - Fall From Grace = Transfer to New Club or Criminal Charges ... Someone should find a solution to that, before they start thowing bricks or mouthing off ... Fact is, I've watched league for 50+ years - Grassroots to NRL and there where plenty of games back in the 60's and 70's played in my home town, on one of the best league fields in Queensland, that where the best games of footy I've ever had the privilege of watching ... "Our Local Heroes" - Players who worked for a living, where paid a pittance a match, and gave their all every Sunday arvo, for their club and as our cities representative team - Talented, Tough, Born and Bred - Played for 80 minutes - Bought the crowd to their feet ... When Rugby League wasn't "ALL ABOUT SUPER STARS AND MEGA MILLIONS or even a TV to watch the Queensland, NSW or International competitions - Radio Broadcasts - (even in the 20th Century there's still a need for that technology) ??? Bobby Fulton was my favourite National player, and neither my heroes or Bozo where or are picture perfect - Why do we love them regardless ??? Dare I say, Melbourne Storm was not even a notion in those days, let alone a pipe-dream, a Rugby League "field of dreams", or on the National League radar ... In 1998 that changed, in my opinion, for the better good ... But, that doesn't mean Salary Cap rorting started or has stopped with them !!! "Look after your own back yard before you think your neighbours doesn't meet your standards." Perhaps you could discuss that with BF, I'm sure he'd be open and honest about it ...
I'mastormtrooper2
Guest
These three league legends started playing for the Storm :- Smith (2002), Slater (2003) and Cronk (2004) - Melbourne Storm won their first Premiership in 1999 ... When Smith, Slater and Cronk joined the ranks they where surrounded by experienced, and representative NRL players and like most young players, past and present, had a lot to learn ... They trained, looked, listened, learned, respected and found success ... Don't think the Melbourne Storm, Bellamy, his coaching and managing team nor the Big 3 aren't contributing to the club for the present, or for its future ... Like ex-player Robbie Kearns - Instrumental in the early success of the club and has worked is arse off as a mentor and stalwart since ... Rugby League is a team sport, and no team or club is "great' or will have "success", without those who are willing to give, or promote their club and sport - Smith, Slater and Cronk are at the top of their game in that department ... A rugby league players career rarely exceeds beyond 15 years ... However, I believe Cam, Billy and Coop's will play, (whether at the Storm is for them to decide), until their mid 30's - Whether they will hold onto their representative jersey's will be for others to determine ... I agree, Billy Slater did not have his best year - neither did his team, but they didn't exactly get the wooden spoon :-/ ... The Storm won the 2012 Premiership, played in England, and had a number of players in the Australia V New Zealand game, and the State of Origin ... Slater, carrying a knee injury, still scored 18 tries in 2013 - More than GREG INGLIS (14) - Which makes me wonder how he was deemed the Dally M Fullback for 2013 considering he represents his State and Country in the Centres ??? AND, Tim Sheen obviously has a professional opinion on that ... Billy Slater is respected as a player and outstanding athlete in the minds and eyes of his peers, league greats and commentators - As are Smith and Cronk - All 3 have won the games most prestigious awards, other players only dream about - But, they play the game for much more than awards, records, recognition or the opinion of others ... Question:- Is this the beginning of the end for the Storm and the "Big 3" ??? The answer - Don't jump the gun, because they haven't exactly thown the towel in yet!!!
belrose eagle
Guest
wrong they knew exactly what they were signing as the problem was with TPAs and the fact the club guaranteed those payments would be paid in there second letter they signed one saying they get paid 450.000 and 150.000 third party payments but third party payments cannot be guaranteed the second letter stated they got 450.000 from the club and the club guarantee to pay 150.000 if the third party cant wont or never existed in the first place that shows the knew enough to sign both letters to make sure they got there cash or in ingls case a boat and rent for his parents or smith house renovations im not sayin they knew the whole team was over but they knew for a fact they were getting money that wasn't counted in the cap otherwise there is reason to sign a second letter at all p.s cash amount is just example
Boomshanka
Guest
GI Nine are vindictive. Following this years Grand Final and prior to the presentation of the medals (which last year had 1 Million viewers in Melbourne alone), Nine in Melbourne decided to start a movie some 15 minutes before its scheduled time. In Melbourne, Nine do the absolute bare minimum as to coverage of any sport other than AFL. It was only a couple of years ago that programming decided for the good of sports fans to delay coverage of the State of Origin and delayed to beyond midnight coverage of the Melbourne Storm's finals appearance. In a SMH article yesterday, Gygnell even admitted that TV here is akin to USA coverage in the 80's and acknowledged that the anti siphoning laws provided a "natural market-share ceiling". There is nothing natural about the anti siphoning legislation which sees sports fans shafted, advertisers rorted and sport sold short. http://www.smh.com.au/business/gyngell-upbeat-on-future-of-freetoair-television-20131018-2vsgt.html He argues that the background of free-to-air in Australia is very different to other countries, particularly the US. TV in Australia is like TV in the 1980s in the US, according to Mr Gyngell. Without the benefit of premium sport (thanks to anti-siphoning laws) pay TV bumps up against a natural market-share ceiling.
Glenn Innis
Guest
One final word - Boomshanka none of what you say makes any sense whatsoever - what nine deliberately put on programming they know will rate less than sports they have the rights to just to piss people off and turn them off the network?Interesting business model given that seven and Ten operate in the same regulatory enviroment! Ever considered that maybe The Sound Of Music might rate better with Nines Melbourne audience than Rugby Union - I would imagine the female audience for Rugby Union in Victoria would be pretty minimal - and they are fifty percent of the population.
Sleemo
Guest
So to use your logic, if a junior team playing in U14s lies about the age of their players, and wins the comp with a bunch of Islanders who are actually 17, they can still fairly honestly genuinely say they won a premiership?
Connor
Guest
3 premierships mate. 3. They still won those premierships. 3
Wolly
Guest
Is that why you got pumped 39-0 without them by the Bulldogs this year? Yea things are looking great.
Boomshanka
Guest
This Network is not your standard commercial model. They receive a benefit from the Government / Taxpayers / Citizens, whereby they can play sports broker and obtain TV rights at a lower price than what would be realised in an open market. (AKA Anti-siphoning Legislation) By paying little for the sport, they then go onto hoard the sport outside of its heartland. They only show one game live (and in Standard definition to boot) each week. I'll acknowledge that the AFL is the big draw card down here, but to hoard and deny sports fans of other codes decent coverage is inexcusable. Things are slightly better, but it wasn't that long ago Melburians had "The Sound of Music", whilst elsewhere on the network Australians had a live Bledisloe Cup feed. If they can't provide their end of the "social contract" they have with the government / people then they shouldn't receive such special protection in the first place.
Boomshanka
Guest
Gyngell cruised about the US recently looking to offload shares and increase the profile for a float. The Americans were blown away by how much protection exists for these dinosaur networks in Australia. Even they realise its a poor investment, whereby at the stroke of a pen all is lost. Their behaviour, treating sports fans with contempt will come back to haunt them.
Nomad
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Gyngell has done a deal with Fairfax for the Fin Review TV show and one assumes good press before Channel Nine is floated. Lets see how long that alliance lasts after Nine is floated..
Storm4ever
Guest
yeah but 16k is better than most other rugby league teams where rugby league is the heartland unlike Melbourne which is dominated by the terrible sport known as AFL. All AFL crowds draw better than any NRL game, no matter who is playing, that is no secret, so you can't really use that as an argument. The AFL just does a much better job of promoting their game sadly.
Storm4ever
Guest
If berala bear and felix read the newspaper articles and NRL report into the findings of the salary cap investigation then you will understand why no players where charged. To put it in simple terms the players were manipulated by their managers and Brian Waldron at the time into signing contracts which were specifically written so that the player would think everything was above board. None of the players would find out because you don't ask your teammates how much they earn and so that is why they weren't punished, they had no idea what was happening which I admit was very short sighted of them to, but you don't expect your manager to cheat you.
Glenn Innis
Guest
No Scott that is not enough for me - most of it actually has no relevance whatsoever. When I see them running an Australian sporting franchice at a profit then I will be a believer until then you can prosletyse how smarter buy the Storm is - as I keep saying time will tell
Glenn Innis
Guest
Scott - You are joking are you not? He owned a fast racehorse - gee they excites me ! I wonder how many camels he has owned in between. Being a bookie is a million miles from running a sporting franchise - I fail to even see the connection. These big corporate bookies are license to print money they have maths on their side and as soon as you start winning good money they ban you. Cycling give me a break - as I keep saying time will tell - if we are both still alive five years from know one of us will have bragging rights, but at leat If I am proved right I
Glenn Innis
Guest
Planko - name the Australian sporting teams they have owned ?As I said buy their shares if you wish - it is your money not mine Melbourne will leak them money like a sieve. You claim Brisbane lose money if they do that is pretty solid proof that no other NRL club has any chance of making money so good luck to any fool silly enough to buy one., unless it is for philanthropy.