It seems crazy to suggest that a Melbourne Storm team – who will comfortably win another minor premiership in a few weeks’ time – are in trouble.
But the signs are there. The cracks are appearing.
Of course, it’s nothing new that sides winning the minor premiership don’t always win the major prize. If we go back as far as 2010, only four sides out of the nine have gone on to take the premiership double.
The Melbourne Storm have won three minor premierships during that period, of which only one team went on to hold the Provan-Summons Trophy aloft at the end of the season.
So history suggests it’s no done deal. But it’s more than that.
The Storm appear to be losing their aura. Their main rivals, if not quite holding their measure, are implementing game plans that are testing the Storm.
(Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
A lot of talk in recent weeks – and quite rightly so – has surrounded the tense race for the last two posts in the top eight. Six clubs in the hunt for seventh and eighth on the ladder.
Whoever makes it through may fancy their chances away from home against a faltering Rabbitohs side. However, history is clear on this one. No side outside the top four has ever won the premiership. I see no reason why that will change in 2019.
But inside the top four, the fight for the premiership has become very interesting. Over the last month, Manly and Canberra have beaten the Melbourne Storm at home.
It’s not as if the Storm played poorly in either game. Completion rates were high, line breaks were close to even. However, there were two match stats that Canberra and Manly both won: offloads and passes completed.
That in itself gives us some insight as to how teams feel they can beat the Storm. You certainly need a big forward pack, as the Sea Eagles and Raiders have, to try and minimise the Storm’s go-forward.
But rather than attack through the middle, these teams are hitting the Storm on the edge, trying to move the Storm pack around and get quicker play the balls. In the Raiders game, play-the-ball speeds were exactly the same. Josh Papalii’s late try was against a tiring Melbourne pack.
The Roosters also will play on the edge against Melbourne, through the likes of Boyd Cordner, as they will be confident their back line will have enough points in them to beat the Storm when it really counts.
None of this takes away from Craig Bellamy’s achievements this year. Not many coaches could lose Cooper Cronk one year then Billy Slater the next and still win the minor premiership in a canter.
However, Bellamy’s major challenge still awaits: another NRL premiership.
Based on the last month’s evidence, this challenge may be a little too tough to achieve.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
What are you on about Ken. That wasn't Sam Burgess it was George Burgess and I was pretty vocal in condemning Big George when he did that. Worse, Robbie was a former teammate which makes the act even more repugnant.
Ken
Guest
Shoulder charge versus a blatant attempt to shove a finger deep into a defenceless players eyeball an blind him for life , wow think about that ...what filthy animal tries to deliberately blind another human being over a stupid game while hes being held down with his hands pinned an defenceless , Smuf you comparing that to a shoulder charge where the opponent bounced back up is pretty disgraceful even for a storm hater like yourself
Muzz
Guest
Runners up again. They miss Cronk.
RoryStorm
Guest
I agree with you to an extent Albo. Being at the game live on the weekend, the right side struggling is even more evident. I read Curtis Scott is a reserve this weekend and I have this funny feeling he just might get his right centre position back again even though the replacements have been very good. Curtis Scott has played in two grand finals and it's hard to ignore that. He was having a ripper of a game in his last outing until he injured his ankle. Also I wouldn't be surprised if Bellamy replaces Croft with our current fullback and picks either of the other fullbacks to take over at the back. Croft isn't nailing down that half position. He's become a liability at times. Brandon Smith is also back this week. There is no way I'm going to proclaim the Storm are going to win the comp this year. I think it could come from either of three clubs and I don't believe Souths are one of them.
RoryStorm
Guest
Cry me a river mammy spurt. I love watching you unravel on here for all to see. You don't seem to mind making a spectacle of yourself. Why shouldn't people go out of there way to get under your skin since you take the bait everytime. Here's a hint for you. Don't worry about what other teams do or don't get away with. You will only come across as bitter. Wait until the GF is finished and hopefully for you your team wins it then you can really let fly. Winners are grinners mate. You with all your crying on here read like a kid who's lost his ice cream. Hysterical.
a
Roar Rookie
They will win the premiereship
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Peter .. the article is about the Storm,not other clubs. A general observation,whether you like it or not, The Storm have replaced Manly as the most despised club in the league. Why is that? jealousy may have something to do with it,but also there low grade tactics to win at all costs, regardless of the direct or indirect damage that does. Regarding Cam’s wingnut. -sure a minor indiscretion ,what I’d categorise as niggle. Ask yourself why does a player of his class an status need to niggle? Answer - because the coaching staff are pressuring him,he’s the leader of the club - leaders lead by example.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
I don't often agee with Paul Kent but he got it right in his crystal clear evaluation of tbe Storm's cheating tactics and he got it right again in this story... Tackling the Smith, Storm issues As soon as the NRL identifies and cracks down on one fouling method the coaches, with the help of their jujitsu coaches, moved it along the spectrum. What a sad state the game is in. https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/blog-with-kenty-tackling-the-smith-storm-issues/news-story/334f6ec484ffc2df6dd7026e144af351
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Unless they give a job to Nathan Hindmarsh, not yet.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
What Souths did with Sam Burgess's last trip to the judiciary was what the Storm receive without having to make the effort and that is to get the grading of the charge downgraded. I heard Bennett interviewed about it and he was 100% correct. Souths were just asking for consistency in the grading of charges and when you look at first Nelson Asofa-Solomona's blatant and deliberate crusher tackle and then Cam Smith's "ear pin, temple crusher" you would realise that you have NO argument. Especially as BOTH players got off scott free. THAT has been the other side of the coin with Sam Burgess btw, that he is targeted by referees and over policed. Remember tje "bumper bar" hitup where Sam was suspended for a couple of weeks for raising his forearm into Josh Morris's throat? The one where JMoz jumped a metre into the air at the last second to put himself in the firing line to win the penalty and possession? Now think about how many times JWH and Nelson Asofa-Solomona have been placed on report and suspended for that. And I'll throw in Kamikamica as well who is as guilty of that as anyone. As usual your arguments are just a smoke screen and another clear attempt to get under my skin.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Paul Kent on NRL360 was also suggesting the Storm are targeting pressure points, in this case Simonsson’s temple which is bloody dangerous. The slam dunk argument against Smith's tackle amd the tackle on Dean Britt by Nelson Asofa-Solomona is WHY to the Storm manipulate the HEADS of opponents in the tackle? It is against both the rules and the spirit of the game and is as totally indefensible as eye gouges by George Burgess and Josh McGuire. Also Paul Gallen has confirmed my claims from an earlier post here that Cam Smith uses the deliberate tactic of feigning clumsiness in tackles, falling over players and struggling to get to his feet, as a cynical means to fool the refs into allowing him to hang around tackles longer than any other player in the history of the game. Then if tge refs call his bluff he openly mocks them with comments and gestures like THAT staged pantomime laugh for the penalty for "rubbish to the face". In short Cam Smith has raised cheating to an art form and is the most cynical and manipulative player to have ever played the game. Paul Gallen: Gallen: How ‘messy’ Cameron Smith gets away with ‘more than most' “Cameron just makes every tackle so messy,” Gallen wrote. “He manages to flop around and act like he’s falling, when he’s the best player I’ve ever seen — he wouldn’t fall over anything. He gets himself twisted and caught up in the tackle, slowing the ruck down. He’s just too good at it. https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/storm/paul-gallen-gallen-how-messy-cameron-smith-gets-away-with-more-than-most/news-story/ecaee1fbade0d884d907bb70fc99c3f0
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Are you serious Will? Have another look at the footage. Smith is basically trying to crush Simonsson's head by pressing his fist against his ear and pushing - not sure if he is pulling his ear but its definitely a crushing motion to pin the player and not allow him to play the ball. You can see the pain Bailey is in and his reaction when he gets up and pushes Smith away in disgust. And the refs comment to Smith about "rubbish on the face" summed it up perfectly. If it was Joe Tapine he did it to he would have sent him into next week. Cameron Smith has to live with the reputation of being both one of the games grubs as well as greats.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Like I said, if Cam Smith and the rest of the Melbourne Storm jiu-jitsu thugs weren't a protected species they would have lapped Sam Burgess in number of charges and judiciary appearances. Look at the link I posted for the Storm's recent history of light treatment at the judiciary. What those stats don't show is the number of times, like Nelson Asofa-Solomona, they have been let off by the MRC and not charged. Don't talk to me about comparing records at the judiciary when the supporters of all the other 15 clubs know exactly what the Storm get away with. Or have you forgotten Billy Slater's blatant shoulder charge that was overlooked in order to give the NRL their sentimental marketing angle for Billy's swansong in the 2018 GF?
Ken
Guest
Why don’t you post Sam Burgess last 5 years at Souths Smurf he has 17 charges , forearm ro throats , grabbing guys by their nads , gouging ...hey but you stand on that moral high ground Smurf , it’s been reported the dirtiest team in the nrl are Souths. , isn’t that embarrassing .
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
I read it, it's BS. Mostly it's just Sam and George bringing down the standard of the club and Sam being over policed by referees. If Sam Burgess or Andrew Fifita did what Nelson Asofa-Solomona has done in recent weeks they would be looking at 6 weeks on the sidelines. Meanwhile the Storm avoid even facing the judiciary. Q.E.D. since referees, the MRC and judiciary are prepared to look the other way the Melbourne Storm are off the radar when looking at statistics which would otherwise reveal that the Storm are the dirtiest club in the NRL.
Soda
Roar Rookie
I love that every controversy from the storm is able to capitalise on the "storm in a teacup" headline. It's like a journalistic gift that keeps giving. They could consider calling themselves the Melbourne Teacups at this time of year.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Why would anyone care
Insider
Roar Rookie
Um Sam puts that to shame! Without his brothers help
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Buzz Rothfield wrote a great story today in the DT saying that the dirtiest team in the comp are ... Souths. Cop that Papi. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/monday-buzz-tackle-whinge-is-a-storm-in-a-tea-cup/news-story/916ced06219528d99ee92f01133805d9
Randy
Roar Rookie
hmmm I didn't notice this... I did see poor Justin Olam getting bullied by John Bateman a few times though, was pretty funny. Poor PNG fella just wants to run and tackle and eat the hearts of his enemies, not deal with scallywags like Bateman.