What a year it has been for the Melbourne Storm: they’ve just won their fifth premiership in their short 20-year history to go along with the outstanding, record-breaking season that was 2017, ultimately setting the benchmark for the bright future of the Storm.
The player of the year awards night was a fitting celebration of not only the individuals but also the club as a whole and the success on and off the field in 2017.
The club has had one of the most outstanding seasons ever recorded in the National Rugby League, with many individual accolades capping off a near perfect season.
There was a record number of players selected in the Australian Kangaroos side; a Dally M winner in Cameron Smith, who is also the all-time games record in the NRL; a Clive Churchill medal for Billy Slater; most tries in the competition for Josh Addo-Carr and Suliasi Vunivalu (23); most line breaks for Josh Addo-Carr (26); second-most points for Cameron Smith (192); 23 wins and four losses; most points scored and least points conceded as a team; and most tries and most tackles of any team in 2017.
The numbers don’t lie. It’s been a big year.
The 2016 season hurt. The Storm didn’t falter until the very end, “failing”, as Coach Craig Bellamy said to “put the icing on the cake”.
From this disappointment, the club posed a question at the start of 2017. ‘How can we go on this year?’ From that question a steely resolve was built, and 2017 would become a year of hunger and redemption.
(AAP Image/David Moir)
The club had a point to prove to not only themselves but the whole of the NRL world. Everyone, from the board to the playing group, responded emphatically to the challenge of 2017, eager to go one step further.
“They were committed and ready to emerge as a fresh-faced club with strong morals,” stated chairman Bart Campbell.
Just a few days after the grand final win Campbell and the club revisited a question that was raised constantly throughout the Storm’s surge: has time healed all wounds?
Campbell agreed it had, explaining that the pain of last year spurred the team onto greater heights.
These greater heights included the rise of young guns Josh Addo-Carr, Curtis Scott (rookie of the year) and Brodie Croft (Cooper Cronk feeder player of the year), who emerged as not only leaders but also vital to the team’s success.
There was mention of Kenny Bromwich, Dale Finucane and Felise Kaufusi, who were explosive and who are headed on an upward trajectory using this season as the springboard for what’s to come.
This attitude was a key factor to Billy Slater playing on in 2018, highlighting the commitment the club has made to supporting its players while striving for ultimate glory.
(Image: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Winger Josh Addo-Carr said that Slater, who officially announced on stage that he will be playing on in 2018, was “good to have around”.
“I’m pretty stoked to have him around. He’s so good for our team,” Addo-Carr said excitingly.
Discussions then turned to the irreplaceable Cooper Cronk, who will be departing from the Storm as a premiership hero.
Brodie Croft, who took home the Cooper Cronk feeder player of the year title, described Cronk as a “major inspiration” to the up-and-coming talent.
“He was one of the reasons I came to the club,” said Croft. “He is one of the greatest halfbacks to play, and there was no one better to learn from.”
Cooper Cronk fittingly summed up the true meaning of the ‘purple pride’ to close out the eventful night.
“The Storm makes you believe you can be so much better than you are. They make you the best you can be.”
And that’s the benchmark that this legend has set for the future of the Melbourne Storm.
The player of the year awards was an opportunity to reflect on the triumph of 2017. The tireless efforts and the willingness to work hard by the players, coaches, staff, board and members helped deliver the ultimate in 2017. This is a new benchmark for the Storm and for the NRL.
Stephen
Guest
Incredibly, when asked by the Chairman at the time - why he chose to expose the club to such risk and deliberately falsify player salary details? Brian Waldron responded - "because all the other clubs were doing it". Staggering.
Greg Ambrose
Guest
I wasn't going to say anything because the author is young but it seems to be a worrying trend where people keep repeating something that isn't true and many start to believe it to be true.
terrence
Guest
But was it just Waldron? No doubt he was the big player. But what did the players know (signing two contracts for different amounts, expensive gifts, etc.)? What did the coaching/football staff and administration staff know? Are players/coaching/football/administration staff involved still at the club. I'd suggest many in the know still would be. Let alone the player managers? That's the biggest concern, the way it was all swept under the carpet by the NRL (who were owned by News Limited who also owned the Storm) with an easy scape goat in Waldron who was no longer at the club. I've never seen an article on The Roar that titled, "As a NRL fan, I was really happy that the Storm denied my team a premiership between 2006 and 2010 with their systematic cheating.
terrence
Guest
Correct Greg, Article writers not sticking to basic known facts debase their whole article and makes readers view the author as without any proper understanding with low/no credibility. I'm not sure why The Roar even lets articles with basic factual areas get on the site, it does nothing but damages the sites credibility reputation.
Greg Ambrose
Guest
It would be much easier if people just stuck to the facts. What would a new fan to the game think when they are reading different versions on how many titles the Storm have. The fans of the two teams who were beaten on the day unfairly don't claim the title as theirs constantly even though they have more claim to it than the Storm. It is very disrespectful to the other clubs to keep on claiming these titles.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
One pass mate, just one pass (thanks Will). I have no doubt that the back to back will happen some time, it will be interesting to see how things unfold next season. I'm sure the Storm will be in the mix though.
Peter Phelps
Guest
He went through a period where he was disenchanted with what was happening in the game. That and what he no doubt sees as the unjust tarnishing of his achievements meant that he seriously toyed with giving it all up. I suspect that the landscape may now have changed somewhat.
Peter Phelps
Guest
If you think about it, there was only 5 minutes that stopped this year being back to back for the Storm. That record is breakable.
Peter Phelps
Guest
True, but you don't have to incessantly trot out the fact every single time the storm and premierships are mentioned. The fact that they had premierships stripped does nothing to negate the point of the article. After 7 years of constant repetition, its high time some fans found another bandwagon to jump on.
BleakCity
Roar Rookie
What is tiring is comments like these. Do the East Germans or the Russians or the Chinese swim team keep coming back with "not those tired old comments about our little bit of cheating"... Just accept the fact the club massively cheated during those years and cop it sweet so we can all move on.
matth
Guest
Good one!
matth
Guest
There is one reason why the Storm won this year compared to last year. Billy Slater. What an absolute legend.
Jock McHale
Guest
The Storm deserve their premiership-s back if Easts can fit Cronk under the salary cap.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
That is certainly one hell of an achievement in itself. Is Bellamy looking at moving on?? I was sure he was slowly tattooing his skin purple.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Agree Peter. Amazingly within 7 years the Storm have now won the equivalent of every title that was stripped from them in 2010. 2 Premierships and 3 Minor Premeirship and even a World Club Title. The stripped titles were also won in the first 7 years under Bellamy. Just wish he could coach for another 7 years!
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Do you mean the truth??
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Good summary of an incredible performance. The Storm were front runners all year, with daylight second. The talk all season was not about if they could keep up the momentum, but rather that team A or B had the best chance of maybe beating them in the GF. They have been the most consistent team since the Titans joined the comp in 2007, having never missed a finals series in that 10 year period (with the exception of 2010 where they played for no points) and winning 2 grand finals (2 stripped so not officially counted). The only team to come close to them has been Manly who also have 2 premierships, but they have dropped off in the last few seasons while they rebuild. The Storm will stay strong for at least next year, but will end up dropping off. Everyone does eventually. It has been a bloody great run for them though and they have been good to watch, even if they never seem to get any TV games. I love the Storm because they are the current benchmark, and I hate the Storm because they are the current benchmark. It's hard to see someone knocking them off next year but RL is a funny game and back to back premierships are not easy to do. Even during the salary cap scandal years the Storm couldn't go back to back. Bring on 2018 and Up Up Cronulla :)
Greg Ambrose
Guest
If something is taken away from you you don't have it anymore. The Storm had two titles taken from them, it isn't a debatable point. If they want those two titles back then they need to take it to court.
RandyM
Guest
Brodie Croft looks like he's just going to slide straight in and take over from Cronk.so another one might not be far off...
Stephen
Guest
Agree Peter. The work is not yet complete.