The Melbourne Storm ran roughshod over the North Queensland Cowboys in Sunday night’s NRL grand final, capping off a season of absolute dominance with an exclamation mark.
The Storm were the best team in 2017 from start to finish, only losing four games all year. They scored the most points in the NRL, and allowed the fewest, meaning they were the best attacking and defensive team in the competition. Then they stormed – pardon the pun – home to the premiership by winning the preliminary final 30-0, and the grand final 34-6.
Such absolute domination can lead to certain fans feeling a little bored. Those who crave parity, competition and close games wouldn’t have enjoyed the predictability of Sunday’s, and the season’s, result.
Yet there remained another narrative, that the Storm themselves were somehow boring as well; a sentiment that surfaced again as they were crowned premiers on Sunday.
It’s an opinion that bemuses me, as I struggle to understand how anyone could find Melbourne’s style of football boring. I think they’re the most exciting team in the competition, and I suspect much of the criticism that comes their way is simply because many people don’t like them.
Not liking the Storm, I can understand, even if I personally have no issue with them.
For many, they’ll always be the upstarts from a non-rugby league town, and the parochial nature within a lot of Australian’s psyches ensures they’ll never warm to the Storm because of it. I don’t agree with it, but I get it.
For others, Melbourne’s chequered past when it comes to cheating the salary cap – and being stripped of two of their premierships – is too big of a hurdle to overcome in the likability sweepstakes, and again, I can appreciate that.
NSW fans have been on the wrong end of an historic State of Origin dynasty, and some of Queensland’s chief architects in that supremacy are Melbourne’s spine of Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk. Needless to say, that doesn’t exactly endear the Storm to the majority of New South Welshmen.
Then there are those individuals who dislike Melbourne simply because they win a lot, while their own team – conversely – does not.
All are valid reasons to give the men in purple a stink eye.
However, when someone raises the point that Melbourne are boring, I have to call a time-out, and delve a little deeper into that viewpoint. Once you do, the words ‘clinical’, ‘robotic’, ‘structured’, ‘methodical’, ‘wrestling’, ‘grubby’ and ‘cheats’ invariably come out.
You can essentially break those words into two distinct camps.
‘Wrestling’, ‘grubby’ and ‘cheats’ falls into a category I would call ‘rugby league’, in that I think you could level those charges against every single team in the NRL.
I don’t think Melbourne are outliers in any of those departments, it’s just that the aforementioned reasons for people not to like the Storm ensures fans see what they want to see when watching Melbourne play. It’s a case of confirmation bias to suggest the Storm are the only team that wrestle, or do grubby things on the field, or give away tactical penalties.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
If you look for those things, you’ll find them in every rugby league game, and people certainly want to find them when watching the Storm.
In the other camp lies the words ‘clinical’, ‘robotic’, ‘structured’ and ‘methodical’, and this is where you could argue things get subjective or down to personal taste.
Much of this criticism is thinly veiled at Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith.
I actually love the brilliant execution of Cronk at halfback. He may not be as flashy as other number 7s, but he’s a lot more effective and successful. He’s far less likely to throw a no-look flick pass, but he almost always calls the right play at the exact right time. He’s measured, thoughtful and precise, and that comes with it’s own appeal.
Likewise, Smith is more workhorse than showpony. While other hookers may dart from dummy-half with blistering pace, or move to first-receiver and consider themselves a playmaker with flair, Smith concentrates on getting through a lot of work, limiting his mistakes, and playing a cerebral game to beat his opponents.
Neither may show up regularly in rugby league’s highlight reels, but neither will they care. They’d much prefer to be on the honour boards, and that’s exactly where they’ll be. Smith will leave the game as the best hooker – and arguably the best player – to have ever laced up a pair of boots, and Cronk will be mentioned among the best halfbacks.
I don’t find the play of either of them boring whatsoever, but if you do, that’s your prerogative.
What I can’t understand is finding the rest of the Storm roster boring.
The brilliance and class of Billy Slater, Cameron Munster and Will Chambers qualifies them among the most exciting players in the competition. Wingers Josh Addo-Carr and Suliasi Vunivalu scored 21 and 23 tries respectively this season. Meanwhile, forwards are rarely flashy anyway, but Tohu Harris, Jesse Bromwich, Jordan McLean, Dale Finucane and Felise Kaufusi formed a formidable and impressive forward pack that terrorised opponents all year long.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
There was nothing boring about these guys, and I fear any judgment of that sort comes through heavily tinted glasses. Not of the rose-coloured variety either.
It seems Melbourne will always have to overcome some baggage in order to get some credit or praise.
As a case in point, Gus Gould – still heavily respected in some rugby league circles – labelled the Storm ‘overrated’ in the lead up to the grand final. Considering the Storm made the grand final last year, were six-point clear minor premiers this season, only lost four games, and were coming off a 30-0 drubbing of the Brisbane Broncos to qualify for the grand final, it was a stupid comment that, sadly, is now becoming Gould’s speciality.
It was made to look even worse at the end of Sunday’s game, and it was the type of comment that has to be put down to irrational dislike, because you couldn’t make it under any pretence of rational thought.
So, rationally thinking, are the Storm overrated? Robotic? Boring?
No. They’re just great.
Bee bee
Guest
TBH TB I agree. There is no credible solution at present. Hopefully over time a clear path will emerge toward an improved structure.
The Barry
Roar Guru
A point well made Bee bee but it wasn't really the point I was making. It's not about what's fair or unfair from a number of clubs point of view. It's absolutely about the profitability of the game. It's not just Sydney teams that benefit from Sydney revenue, the NRL props up all but two or three clubs in the game. So I don't think reliance on Sydney revenue is bad if everyone is benefitting. I'll start by saying I do understand to a large degree the frustration of a non-Sydney fan. But I'll also say there's a large blind anti-Sydney bias out there which dilutes the reasonable voice. Some of the comments on this post are evidence. There's a part of the frustration I don't get which I'll come back to later. If this were an ideal world and we were setting an NRL comp up from scratch there's no way you'd set it up with nine teams in Sydney. I completely acknowledge that. But that's not the situation we're in. The NRL is stuck between a rock and a hard place with expansion. Every time they cut or merge or relocate a Sydney team they cost the game fans. And by fans I crudely mean TV viewers. Cut say Manly and you lose all those passionate Manly fans to the game. There's also no other team in all of Northern Sydney so you lose that whole area to soccer, afl and rugby. Those fans don't just switch over to a new team. Anyone that thinks that hasn't been paying attention. So a new franchise coming into say Adelaide has to immediately bring that many fans to the game just to have the NRL back at square one. But this is where the kicker is. They have to be NEW fans to the game. If you've got say 10,000 expats in Adelaide who watch rugby league already and they form the supporter base for the new franchise, you haven't created any additional fans or viewers of the game. And this counts even in Brisbane. I completely understand that not everyone in Brisbane likes the Broncos. I think there should be a second (at least) Brisbane team. I get that a second Brisbane team would be well supported. But will it attract enough NEW fans to the game to justify the expense and the cost of cutting a Sydney team? Because if the new Brisbane franchise attracts people that already watch NRL but just don't follow the Broncos then the answer is no. That is clinically, objectively, unemotionally at the heart of the problem. There's not an expansion option that makes financial sense for the NRL and they don't have the money to tip funds into something that cuts revenue in the immediate term that may or may not payoff in twenty to thirty years. So, for me it's not about fearing change. If someone can come up with a method that culls Sydney teams without losing fans or set up new franchises that attract new fans I'm completely open to the idea. So that doesn't really answer your "searching from within the citadel" line but I'll be honest, I have no idea what the solution is. I do think I've got a better grasp of the challenge than most people. Which is potentially a start. I've read literally dozens of articles and thousands of posts and watched and listened to hours of discussions about this and not heard one credible solution that addresses the above. I've got to be honest nothing bores me more than fanciful articles about "we need two divisions of twenty teams each with only five Sydney clubs, five from Brisbane, three in Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, PNG, Fiji North, Fiji South, Vanuatu, Hawaii, etc, etc" May as well write "how I would structure the NRL if I found a genie in a bottle" in crayon, on the back of a rice bubbles box. ? Back to the frustration. If someone is a passionate Broncos, Storm or Cowboys fan, why is it frustrating their team plays against teams from Manly, Penrith or the Roosters as opposed to teams from Adelaide, Perth or Hobart?
Bee bee
Guest
NQ v Brisbane is the best on-field rivalry in League for 3 or 4 seasons now. A rivalry built on respect and playing league the way it should be. Your right. The outsiders don't get Sydney.
Bee bee
Guest
TB. I have to point out that the games reliance on Sydney revenue is not a good thing. Sydney has 8.5 out of 16 clubs. (Penrith 0.5?) Thats a major revenue advantage. I know this is a subject you are very well across. But. To continually quote a problem as the reason not to correct a problem seems like a political tactic of Trump proportions. I won't sign off whatever..... but do you see why people outside of Sydney get frustrated. Soul searching Solutions from inside the citadel. How about it TB? Are you ready to search or is the status quo a suspected convenience for those who fear change?
Bee bee
Guest
A Tiger shouldn't be throwing stones at the glitter strip right now. GC was starting to develop a real community backing. Torpedoes like Cherry bomb and the Hayne Plane have set them back but the team will come good just like the Tigers will....... eventually.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
The population of Sydney is approximately 5 million. So to claim "Sydneysiders are well known for changing teams", I'll be super generous and say you would need to provide evidence of . . . . 25 people, for that comment to even start to have any hint of credibility.
The Barry
Roar Guru
"Sydneysiders are way too well-known for changing NRL teams a few times in their life." You remember...the comment that started all this...
Reservoir Animal
Guest
When did I label the entire city that way?
The Barry
Roar Guru
It's not really proof though... "Two dead guys, my sister and some other unnamed randoms" Seems a bit skinny to be labelling an entire city of four million people.
Reservoir Animal
Guest
How many do I have to know to satisfy your levels of proof?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Well written Ryan. A simple reality in sport is the fact that the better you are, the more you are disliked by those you are beating regularly. A great club with a spine to remember. It's not the grapple that does it for the Storm, it is the sheer class.
Eddie Otto
Roar Guru
I think this has been the most exciting Storm side I can remember. They did used to be quite methodical and robotic however with those 2 flying wingers they played more expansive game this year. They were certainly the leaders in the wrestling side of Rugby League a decade or so ago, I think that is where a lot of the resentment comes from. Plus the fact some of those super stars signed 2 contracts during that Salary Cap mess. Even if you don't like them you certainly have to respect them. I wouldn't write them off doing it again next season even without Cronk.
MH01
Guest
I actually got back into watching the raiders last year cause it was entertaining and frankly union is dying a slow death in Australia . I grew up watching both codes and always watch the NRL finals, living as an expat in U.K. The game times are not exactly favourable . I also watched the AFL grand final, was also meh..... guess I should not have an opinion as I don't follow the code week in and week out?
Matth
Guest
Canterbury v Newtown in, maybe 1981 0-0.
Sharkattack
Guest
Ryan, one of the best and most sensible articles you've ever written. Even though I am a Shark, I have nothing but admiration for the Melbourne Storm. They play like I wish my team would play. They don't lazily drop the ball, they never get run down when in front on the scoreboard, they make their tackles and they have the best decision makers as play makers. When I saw things like "I hope the Cowboys beat those cheats" I just shake my head, close my eyes and laugh. A team that finishes eighth winning half it's games (no matter how brave they were nor the key players they lost) should never be given the tag "premiers". The hatred for the Storm is borne of jealousy. I admire the Cowboys' efforts, and they have lost no friends. But the Storm were the best side in 2017, and they passed their final exam with flying colours.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Argument?
Ryan O'Connell
Guest
You want more people like me? Really?
Greg Ambrose
Guest
If you want to have a good sleep jump in a time machine and go back and watch Newtown play manly at Brookie oval in the 70's. That was truly boring but there is nothing boring about the Storm in 2017. The Storms winning ways masked the dramatic drop in form of Vinivalu. He was a liability against Parra and improved to be largely ineffective in the rest of the finals. I'll be interested to see how he goes next year, maybe he was carrying an injury. Macleans long pass to set up a try has led to a bit of comment and it was good to see him show some vision but it isn't a difficult pass to throw. Manipulating someone thru a gap like Cliff Lyons did is much more difficult.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
So you know "some"? That's a long, long way from "Sydneysiders are way too well-known for changing NRL teams".
matth
Guest
The Smith to Cronk to Slater combo in the second half to open up the Cowboys marker defence was as good a piece of rugby league as you will see. They just executive those plays at such a speed that the defence will struggle if they are even a half step behind. It was beautiful. For my Broncos, Milford and Roberts can be exciting to watch, but it all feels like it's ad lib, with no repeatable plans in place.