The State of Origin period can often be hard on teams like Melbourne, but they have come out of it looking even more likely to win the premiership than they did before it began.
Their ‘big three’ – Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater – are intact, and each of them was afforded valuable time off from club games to allow them to cope with the added strain of the representative period.
That was something Storm coach Craig Bellamy preferred not to do in the past, but with Smith and Slater both now 34 and Cronk 33, it was necessary.
But not a necessary evil, as it turned out, because the Storm have emerged from the Origin period still on top of the competition table.
And Cameron Munster is now a representative star as well.
Munster’s Origin debut for Queensland in the series-deciding Game 3 was brilliant. He announced himself as the clear successor to Johnathan Thurston at five-eighth for the Maroons as they beat NSW to win another title.
Now, he is set to come out of Origin as an even more confident and composed player than he was before breaking through at that level.
Munster is a potential ten-year representative player, a superstar in the making, and the Storm are blessed to have him as the careers of hooker Smith, halfback Cronk and fullback Slater move closer to the end.
Cronk won’t be at Melbourne after this season, so this is the one chance Slater, Munster, Cronk and Smith will get to win a premiership together as the quartet in the key spine positions for the club.
(AAP Image/David Mariuz)
If Melbourne don’t have rotten luck and fall apart due to injury at the business end of the season, how well is some other team going to have to play to deny them the title?
The Storm have also picked up forwards Nate Myles and Robbie Rochow from other clubs during the Origin period, significantly boosting their forward depth.
Jordan McLean will be back from injury eventually and when you add those three players to Jesse Bromwich, Tim Glasby, Felise Kaufusi, Tohu Harris, Dale Finucane, Kenny Bromwich, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Joe Stimson it is clear how very well Melbourne are travelling up front.
Glasby, of course, will be another Storm player who comes out of the Origin period a better player after appearing in games two and three for the Maroons. His confidence will have skyrocketed.
Wingers Suliasi Vunivalu and Josh Addo-Carr have scored 27 tries between them and centre Will Chambers is a champion.
Centre Cheyse Blair is gone for the rest of the season through injury, but expect to see Young Tonumaipea fill in well for him. It’s just the way things happen under Craig Bellamy’s coaching. He gives his players clear and simple jobs to do and they are perfectly prepared to do them.
Some recent performances by two of the other teams regarded as major contenders have been alarming – the 44-12 loss by the Sydney Roosters to Cronulla and two losses by the Sharks themselves, 35-18 to Manly and 30-10 to Gold Coast.
The Storm haven’t had any such dramatic slip-ups. Easily the biggest of their four losses this season was in their most recent game, 22-6 against Parramatta, but that was when they were minus their Origin stars.
Melbourne begin their post-Origin run in to the finals with an away game against Canberra on Saturday night.
It has the potential to be a difficult game for the Storm, because the 10th-placed Raiders desperately need a win, but anything other than a Storm victory would still be a shock.
The two teams are well apart on the competition table for good reason. Melbourne rarely slip out of gear, while Canberra are their own worst enemies.
John
Guest
I Heard the same last year - Storm were lucky to make the GF as the Raiders blew that prelim final game as they did in the first week of the finals against the Sharks - Could have been two different teams play in the grand final - Finals are a different comp so one cannot say Storm will win it at all -
Adrian Buttery
Guest
Greg Pritchard - you have me stumped. How can you think Young will be the replacement for Cheyse. The spot will be held by Curtis Scott. He will be a late change if fit and healthy and will hold the spot from here out.
The Fatman
Guest
The Storm are Gods gift to Rugby League. worship them properly.
Conan of Cooma
Roar Rookie
Aw yeah! That, or Manly make it in and we finally get revenge!
J.C.
Roar Pro
Top tens are his thing so, i m not going to try, he did ask me to give it a go but no,. He does not just at a bottleshop he also does contract work which requires him to go away for a while where there is no Internet or anything. Im sure he'll be happy for your concerns
The Spectator
Guest
Manly get a mini finals Rd 21 Mel in Mel, rd 22 v Roosters then a few easier games leading into finals, I'm hoping this proves a 2nd chance for Eagles, a practice run if you will, iron out any wrinkles to make a play for the week off.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Maybe you could try your hand at some top 10 articles...I have a feeling that you'd be every bit as good as BigJ. What do you mean he's gone dark for work commitments? Doesn't he work at a drive through bottle shop? Or has he gone searching for Colonel Kurtz in his own heart of darkness. Anyway, I hope hes ok, pass on my regards when you talk to him next. Don't change your ways...
RM
Guest
a jug of New? That's some pretty harsh penance right there...
J.C.
Roar Pro
Um when did BigJ get his hand stuck in a vending machine??? The big fella is fine Barry, he has had to go dark for a while due to work commitments. He is currently off the radar, but he should be back around late October, early November. He is rather annoyed about it as he will not get to watch the Grand final or write any articles about the Nrl or anything for a while, so no top tens for a while. Im surprised that you did not know that he has gone dark for a while considering you comment on just about everything he writes on the site. Didn't you read his last article??? He did leave a see you later note
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Good luck!
Bunney
Roar Rookie
We've got a 5-day turnaround this week! Outrageous!
celtic bandaid
Guest
Another Great Channel 9 story for Ken Sutcliffe Rabbits and Gus " these 3 absolute legends of the game" I can hear it now No mention of the other 2 support acts- The refs Still it will rate well
celtic bandaid
Guest
and 12 hours later there are no disgareements with your comment. Is one surprised David as I'm not
The eye
Guest
true,I've got more chance of starting in the centres than Young T....Bellys fooling around..
The Barry
Roar Guru
Haha...I missed out, didn't check the late mail when he was picked against the Broncs.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
a few lads here with C Scott in their supercoach team....
The eye
Guest
A week is a long time in football..here we have the Raiders playing for their season...for mine Rapana and Cotric are the best attacking wingers in the comp,and every one with eyes knows where the Storm frailties are...paired with last years best offending club centres...in Canberra..aching for could have been and still with the necessary lift..can be a contender..time to take down a poppy..
The Barry
Roar Guru
Haven't heard from BigJ in a while...is he ok? Hasn't got his hand stuck in a vending again I hope...?
The Barry
Roar Guru
You wouldn't have to worry about being called names if you only go for one team. "Just the Storm" is a very strange answer...
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Yeah agreed. The Roosters were so dominant for a few years but just couldn't finish it off when it counted. I'm not saying the Storm will crumble, but stranger things have happened. It's best not to jinx your team this far out. It will take a pretty special effort to deny them this year. The Sharks have the game, but have been way too inconsistent this year. Unless they find some magical form in the last 1/3 of the year I can't see them backing up. Manly are a dark horse still, nobody seems to rate them as much of a chance but they have the game to really upset sides come September. It should be a cracking end to the season, Up the Sharks