Opinion
When Cameron Smith officially announced his retirement a day out from the 2021 NRL season, there were questions on how the Melbourne Storm would continue to keep dominating the NRL without their greatest player.
Fast forward to Round 19 and those worries are dead and buried as of now. Having lost two games so far and boasting a massive points differential, the Storm are on track to receiving the 2021 NRL minor premiership and the club will be backing their players to go back to back in the finals.
As the Storm gear up to take on the North Queensland Cowboys, I’ve come up with a statistical analysis of the Storm’s past two seasons and comparison of the numbers.
With a massive gap between Round 2 and 3 due to COVID-19 last season, the stats will only show between Round 3 and Round 20 for last year’s season.
Numbers from the finals series will not be included as the intensity, alongside other factors, in a finals series varies a lot to the regular season.
Storm 2020 regular NRL season stats (Round 3-Round 20)
Tries scored – 87
Average number of tries scored per game – 4.83 (approximately)
Tries conceded – 45
Average number of tries conceded per game – 2.5
Points scored – 504
Average points scored per game – 28
Points conceded – 262
Average points conceded per game – 14.56 (approximately)
Average winning margin – 20.5
Average losing margin – 11.25
Games won by less than 10 points – 3
Games won by 10-20 points – 5
Games won by more than 20 points – 6
Storm 2021 regular NRL season stats (Round 1-Round 18)
Tries scored – 114
Average number of tries scored per game – 6.71 (approximately)
Tries conceded – 37
Average number of tries conceded per game – 2.18 (approximately)
Points scored – 632
Average points scored per game – 37.18 (approximately)
Points conceded – 198
Average points conceded per game – 11.65 (approximately)
Average winning margin – 28.67 (approximately)
Average losing margin – 3
Games won by less than 10 points – 2
Games won by 10-20 points – 1
Games won by 21-30 points – 6
Games won by 30-40 points – 2
Games won by more than 40 points – 4
So far, the numbers show the Storm have bettered their 2020 NRL regular season numbers both in attack and defence.
Despite a number of injuries and the gap of Cameron Smith’s experience missing, the ruthlessness in the Storm’s attack regardless of the 17 on the park shows the mentality of the Storm playing group this season.
In the past two seasons, the Storm have played only five games at AAMI Park with a crowd and have relocated to the Sunshine Coast three times due to lockdowns in Victoria.
Despite all of the challenges they’ve had to face, they have thrived as a club during a global pandemic which is a huge indication of how the club wants to be run in the short and long term.
Despite the way the Storm have dominated the 2021 NRL season, two massive tests in facing the Panthers and Sea Eagles in consecutive rounds will be an eye opener in how the Storm will be prepared for the big games come finals time.
But as of now, you’d be a madman not to back the Storm to go back to back.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
The Roosters coach wasn't happy after a number of controversial calls went against them in their loss to the Storm - does he have…
Death, taxes and the Storm defying pre-season predictions that this year will be the one when they slip down the ladder. Inevitably, seven rounds…
The Storm wasted their Captain's Challenge in the first four minutes against the Roosters with the Nine team left wondering if they even knew…
Ryan Papenhuyzen was pleading for James Tedesco to be sent for ten. Was the Roosters skipper lucky to stay on the field?
This could've been disastrous for the Storm. Jahrome Hughes looked to have earnt a penalty but the non-call snowballed with Cameron Munster soon sent…
The Roosters coach was up in arms after this try to Eliesa Katoa stood, with Channel Nine's Andrew Johns predicting it was going to…
