The Melbourne Storm came into the competition in 1998, and made an immediate impact.
They remained undefeated at home during their first season, and then went on to capture their maiden title in 1999, a dramatic 20-18 victory over my Dragons. To rub salt into the wounds of Dragons fans everywhere, the Storm spanked them 70-10 a year later.
As a die-hard Saints fan, surely I must hate the Storm for those two events alone, or Young Tonumaipea’s try after the siren a couple of years ago that robbed us of an important win, but I just can’t hate a team as good as the Storm.
There was of course the salary cap scandal, but with no Storm to play in the finals, the Dragons romped home to the 2010 title. I still can’t bring myself to hate them, if anything I love them for their multiple sets of books and shady dealings, it opened up the premiership and delivered the Dragons a long-awaited title.
With the Dragons bumbling their way to ninth this season the finals series has been very relaxing and the games have been breathtaking, the Storm earning their title as the best modern day team by advancing straight to a preliminary final with a hard-fought win over a gallant Eels side.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
The Storm have class all over the field, all-time greats in Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk and the ninth immortal in Cameron Smith, and they boast the best wing combination since Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri terrorised defences in the early 2000s.
People complain about their wrestling tactics, but the Storm were just the first team to adopt this new form of defence, and now every team does it, yet I only hear complaints about the Storm.
It’s hard to hate a team that is just so good at what they do, I just sit back and marvel at their brilliance, which has been going on for some time now.
We’ve been urged to get behind the Roosters this week, but it’s hard to barrack for the latte lovers of Bondi who have limited juniors, almost no fans and seem to think we will all suddenly fall in love with them, just because they are the last NSW team left. Sorry won’t happen.
On Friday night the Storm will advance to the decider by beating the Broncos and we will be better for it, as they deserve to take out the grand final, having been clearly the best team all year. I’d love to see them take on the Cowboys who have been fantastic to watch, I honestly expected them to bow out in week one.
So sit back and enjoy the masters plying their trade, don’t be a hater and appreciate the Storm for who they truly are: champions.
Ken
Guest
Dogs body' I actually respect your comment more than the rubbish served up by some people on here's , it's honest , you hate the storm cus they beat your team sometimes , just like I use to hate manly cus they had no fear of the storm and use to give it to us lol , beaver menzies great player , hated him cus he was so good , makes no sense but it's honest at least .
Ken
Guest
Youre a confessed Bulldogs supporter hectoring this site about Storms " massive systematic salary cap rorting " , it's like a supporter of a thief on his high horse calling another criminal a thief "it wouldn't be so bad to cop from a cowboys supporter because they have never been accused of salary cap breaches or cheating the system to win a premiership but if you can't see the hypocrisy , even as u say you didn't support their rorting your team were salary cap cheats who won a premiership the following year and that by rights as a bulldogs supporter make any moral outrage you profess against the storms salary cap rorts mute in point .
The Barry
Roar Guru
There's absolutely zero hypocracy in my opinion. I've never once defended the Bulldogs for rotting the cap. Show me where I've offered any excuse... I've never deflected blame to anyone else. You're the one writing that it's the Bulldogs fault that the Storm rorted the cap, Who's the hypocrite?
The Barry
Roar Guru
No...you listed those things as reasons why people would hate the Storm and then cry when people say they hate the Storm. Get over it you sook
The Barry
Roar Guru
You two can't understsnd English Who was injured wasn't the point. You don't have to injure someone to be a grub You can't rewrite history fellas
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
Brilliant ?
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
Ken Totally agree with you! Could you imagine the extra, extra Melbourne hate if we had a Pom as Captain like that Grub Graham ? The Canterbury Cannibals - I'd take a chicken wing over half an ear any day thanks.
Ken
Guest
He spent 2 years there training and learning his trade , injured or not he came from the storm system It's not important but he admitted the storm taught him discipline and hard work .
Ken
Guest
Bunny the inferred teams that slow down the play the the ball is the storm . You know it I know it ,we are great at it ? , open fast rugby league where you allow the opposition to jump up in a tackle asap and allow their team to get a roll on , what team does that ? I know it's not the Broncos or the Cowboys ?who actually dioes that and would their coache pat them on the back an go great job lol.
Ken
Guest
Too be fair what got me going Barry was your comment " massive systematics salary cap rorting " guilty as charged ,didn't your bulldog say also commit " massive systematic salary cap rorting " too , please do not say your team only rorted a millions dollars against the storm 4 million as some excuse ? , maybe if the nrl had crucified your team at the time other teams wouldn't have thought hey they just slapped them on the wrist allowed them to win a grand final the next year maybe that's ok to do too It's the hypocrisy of your opinion rather than your actual opinion that's annoys me .
Ken
Guest
The Barry warry actually didn't answer your question Mike , he replied with something we already mentioned 2008 ,9 years ago Cameron smith was suspended for a neck crank on Thaiday , the question in case he doesn't read very well is " Name a player that succumbed to injury from the storms jnfamous ju-jitsu moves Grapple tackles , ninja nerve point holds etc " he actually can't and that's the sad thing about a storm hater , he regurgitates repeated slander and when asked to give a example he can't .I just watched the Broncos , Blair come in with a swinging arm , Kahu flops on the back of Slaters knees late after he scored a try and the storm are dirty lol , what a joke , guy needs to grow up with his little petty comments against the storm , it's childish and pathetic .
Ken
Guest
So you mentioned a few times the storm rorted the salary cap as a reason to hate the storm. And you admit it's ok to hate your Bulldogs cus they rorted the cap and you're telling me to grow up lol I'm a 50 year old man calling you on how ridiculous your comments are, don't hate the storm for rorting the cap when your own team rorted the cap and won a grand final with the same team the following year ,stealing a premiership from their opposition .Im not gonna be a hypercrite accusing another team of rorting when my own teams also rorted the cap , maybe you shouldn't grow up lol , don't worry I'm not too fussed just getting ready to watch the Storm play next weeks grand final lol ,enjoy your bitterness lol , oh An grow up mate .
Bill larkin
Guest
As I said, bizarre. So who instructed Harrigan and who else was in on this massive conspiracy?
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Ken, the original post mentioned fast-flowing attacking footy. It NEVER mentioned the Storm in a negative way - get over it buddy.
Nat
Roar Guru
While I hate no team, I have no respect for the Sharks for that reason. Essendon sat out all their 1st grade players for the same offense. Sharks sit out the final 3 games when they had no chance of going further. Plus he gets the NSW captaincy again! Disgraceful! The days of Gallen, Fifita and Flannagan will pass and the Sharks can restore some pride in the jumper again.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I say exactly the same thing about the Bulldogs 2004 premiership as I do the Storms 2012 premiership. Their sides were both legally assembled according to the rules at the time. Read into that what you will. You can try and re-write history all you like. But the problem is me and everyone else were watching the game at the time and we know the Storm introduced all the grubby chicken wings, grapples, crushers etc Who did they injure? That's not the point. They're grubby tactics designed to stop players moving or getting to their feet under the threat of injury. Thankfully they've been stamped out before someone did get hurt. It's like the fiberglass shoulder pads of the 80s (which I'm surprised you didn't mention). The Bulldogs did the wrong thing. It was completely low and grubby. Difference is I can acknowledge it while you're carrying on like a spoiled brat calling everyone names and trying to re-write history. Haven't I read somewhere that you're 50 years old? Grow up and stop banging on about "haters".
The Barry
Roar Guru
Learn to read. I'm not "hating on" the Storm. If someone says to me "I hate the Bulldogs because they rorted the salary cap" I say fine good luck to you. I don't carry on with your garbage of "you're wrong ! You're a hater" Grow up
The Barry
Roar Guru
Are you really saying that the Storm weren't at the vanguard of the wrestling holds? Seem to remember the current Storm captain missing a grand final for a choke hold on his origin team mate. The Storm don't wrestle any more than any other team. I'm very comfortable admitting that but that doesn't change the history that these guys invented this junk. I agree with you on how good they are. I think they're an extremely exciting team to watch My point is despite what you say the storm DID invent these grubby wrestling holds. It's not ancient history its within the last few years. If people hate the Storm that's one of the reasons why they do. You need to accept it and stop trying to re-write history.
Honky Tonk Man
Guest
5000 juniors on the Central Coast for starters now in the Roosters Junior System- got to understand how Souths with the help of Manly/Dogs/Balmain stole traditional Roosters junior areas too http://www.wow.com/wiki/Sydney_Roosters_Juniors https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/92/Border_2.JPG http://crlnsw.com.au/sydney-roosters-form-alliance-central-coast-division-rugby-league/ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/central-coast-rugby-league-adopts-sydney-roosters-nickname-and-colours/news-story/ae53424ebb16a8e4170c1af5135f1650
Benji
Guest
Harrigan and TV wanted a close game and Harrigan (not unused ti second half comebacks) famously gifted the Storm from a forward pass and then awarded a crucial knock on against saints when the ball travelled clearly backwards - he didnt give it to the Storm - the penalty try was a Storm try but Harrigan got them close. Watch the game with eyes open.