The Melbourne Storm have been the NRL gold standard for the best part of a decade, but that gold sheen is starting to fade as the hangover of Cameron Smith’s departure finally starts to emerge.
Comparisons to the Sydney Roosters of 2020 are fast emerging, as this was the Trent Robinson juggernaut widely tipped to take out an unprecedented threepeat of premierships, but just couldn’t put it together.
After two very uncharacteristic floggings at the hands of the Penrith Panthers and the North Queensland Cowboys, the normally self-assured Storm look out of sorts.
With the omission of superstar fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen and New Zealand halfback Jahrome Hughes these past few weeks, marquee five-eighth Cameron Munster lamented that Craig Bellamy’s troops “looked like under-12s” in the wake of their dreadful loss to the Panthers, but many dismissed it as a blip on the radar.
What was troubling was the following week’s effort, a dreadful display against the high-flying Cowboys, who have become the feelgood story of the year.
Usually a Storm side littered with battle-hardened internationals and Origin stars, would be hungry to make amends after a trouncing at the hands of a title heavyweight. Melbourne just couldn’t muster the courage to keep up with the youthful enthusiasm of Todd Payten’s squad in the second half, North Queensland turning a 12-6 halftime lead into a 36-6 demolition.
Pairing these losses with a thrilling golden-point loss to premiership hopefuls the Parramatta Eels, the Storm’s season is fast beginning to mirror that of the 2020 Chooks.
The Roosters came into 2020 looking an ominous prospect. Off the back of two title wins in a row, it wasn’t immediately obvious to many that the back-to-back premiers just couldn’t beat other top sides, but the signs were always there.
Losing two in a row to start the title defence was never ideal, but the COVID lockdown seemed to unlock them and they came out firing after the layoff, stringing together five wins and looking a different beast again.
However, they still had trouble getting over the hump against the best teams, losing to eventual premiers Melbourne twice, and getting absolutely trounced by South Sydney during the final round of the regular season.
The Tricolours were then bundled out in straight sets in the finals, losing a tight qualifying final to Penrith, and then again to the 2019 runners-up, the Canberra Raiders, a team that they also floundered against mid-season.
Take no disrespect from the accomplishments of that team, as they finished fouth on the ladder in a stacked top eight, but their ladder position flattered a lack of polish during the year, magnified against the best teams at the business end.
So what say you for the 2022 Melbourne team?
They are certainly not a lost cause by any means, but with a large contingent either injured or set for Origin selection in the coming weeks, the Storm will have to dig to depths not often uncovered to try and recover their season.
Having lost to two of the teams most favoured alongside them for the title, the Eels and Panthers, the warning signs are growing that Craig Bellamy’s squad, while still outstanding, don’t have the killer instinct to put away sides that they held in the past.
Their run home isn’t exactly favourable either. Two games against the high-flying Broncos, including a fixture in the middle of the Origin period, led by a resurgence from new signing Adam Reynolds and new kid on the block Selwyn Cobbo.
Their Round 22 match against Penrith will be a good barometer of where they sit heading into the business end, while a mouth-watering clash against Parramatta in the final round of the season could be the difference between a home semi at AAMI Park or a trip back up to Sydney for Week 1.
The writing is on the wall for this Melbourne team, and it’s not looking pretty. With a significant core either heading north to the Dolphins next year or off contract, anything less than a premiership this year will be dubbed a failure.
And if recent history shows, it’s their exact path right now.
Adam Clements
Roar Rookie
Rabbitohs are a different team without Reynolds. With Reynolds and Walker either side of the ruck their control over games was outstanding. Both teams knew how to win when they get there (remembering the Roosters won 2 comps in a row before 2020), but the Roosters bounced out in straight sets because they were versing teams at the same level as them, and I think it’s the reason the Storm are looking shaky too. Sure, they’ll be there at the business end, but they won’t get to the big dance.
Adam Clements
Roar Rookie
The slick run the Storm went on mirrors what the Roosters did in 2020. They gave a lot of the ‘bad’ teams in the comp a bath, including a 59 point spanking of the Broncos.
Slammin_Sam
Roar Rookie
Lots of teams being written off in June already. I think the comparison between the storm and the roosters is weak. Both teams know how to win when they get there-- they are the gold standards as you say. Im more interested in souths avalanche this year after making the GF and/or preliminary finals since 2018 and havent come up with a brass razoo....that window has well and truly closed whilst the others youve mentioned still have a chance (not taking into account that if Penrith keep playing the way they are at the moment this is whole article is a moot point anyway)...
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
You’re kidding yourself. Any team would struggle against top opposition missing that many players, and there are so many weeks left in the season that it is impossible to predict which of the top 4 clubs will have healthy or compromised lists come finals. Only a few weeks ago the Melbourne list with Paps Hughes Grant and NAS were crushing all opposition, and they will all be back before finals. They have as much chance as any of the other top teams.
Adam Clements
Roar Rookie
Not a bad position to be in when you can lose 2 players as good as Finucane and Hynes, and have a ‘mini-rebuild’ while maintaining a spot in the top 4, hey!?
Adam Clements
Roar Rookie
Fair enough. I just think the signs are there that the Storm ain’t what they used to be. They pride themselves on their ‘next man up’ mentality, and even with Hughes and Paps out they flex one of the best sides in the NRL. As I’ve said in an earlier comment, they’re a victim of their own success as anything less than a premiership is dubbed a failure, but I fear for their premiership credentials come the business end of the season.
Tony
Roar Guru
Let's hope so Adam :happy:
Adam Clements
Roar Rookie
Thanks mate :) plenty more terrible takes where this came from ????
Dean
Roar Rookie
Good article Adam. For mine, the Storm are in an 'unofficial rebuild' this year, although doing it with a Bellamy panache where standards won't be allowed to drop. Why a rebuild? At the end of the year, they lose the Bromwich brothers, Kafuisi and Smith while having a relatively inexperienced backs roster with 3 new faces in the first choice back 5. There is a look of transition around the way Bellamy is using the forwards, particularly Smith who is now a utility to Grant as the first choice 9. This comes on the back of losing Hynes and Finucane this year. Bellamy's roster management style is very clear, fight hard to keep the first choice spine and allow the older players to depart with thanks for a final pay day at another club (all the departing forwards are in their 30s) while Smith and Hynes couldn't be kept without unbalancing the roster. Meanwhile, Bellamy is confident he can slot the replacements into his system ala King. I don't know much about the Storm feeder ranks but am betting there is a cadre of young forwards ready to impress for round 1 2023. Meanwhile, the current crop will still be strong contenders in this years' final series.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
You forgot Welch (origin fwd) and Smith (first choice centre). Plenty of players missing vs full list.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Sorry but I can't agree with your conclusions. Getting rolled by the two next best teams when missing a raft of key playmakers due to injury s not cause to show they can no longer compete. The cowboys showed against the Panthers what can happen when a great team missing its strike personnel goes up against a club with a clean injury list. If Cleary, Kikau and To'o did ACLs in the next two weeks, I'd bet Penrith would turn in some ordinary performances too, would not mean the side has dropped away.
Tony
Roar Guru
Great first article Adam. Welcome to the jungle.
Malo
Guest
The Storm and Parra are the only teams that will bother or have any chance of winning the premiership over the Panthers. You can write the rest of the teams off. I’d say them and Penrith are still the gold standard.
Adam Clements
Roar Rookie
The comparison wasn't between Penrith and the 2020 Roosters though. I honestly think it'll be a Penrith vs Parra or Sharks GF. The Storm won't aim up against strong opponents this year. The Cowboys on paper just aren't in the same avenue as Penrith, Storm or the Eels so I think unless their form continues and it's not a purple patch it's hard to put them up there as a proper contender at the moment.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
By that logic, Penrith are also collapsing, having lost to 6th place Parra. Given the cowboys are 8 and 3, it is pretty disrespectful to say they are not the real deal. Given they have beaten the only team that beat both Penrith and the Storm (Parra), this must put them in discussion as a contender.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
You reckon? I think its a hard position to rate, given the vast skill set and different styles on offer (B Smith is "prop" as well according to stats), but his impact is felt every game for sure, for both the Storm and the opponents. Given the way the Storm forwards have, for lack of a better term, sucked these past few weeks, you can see he is missed up front (considering how dominant they normally are)
Rob
Guest
Putting NAS as top 3 prop is pretty generous.
Adam Clements
Roar Rookie
Hard to write them off totally when you look at their entire body of work over the last 10 years, but my comparisons to the Roosters, and a shallower depth chart than usual are problems that are getting harder for the Storm to hide.
Adam Clements
Roar Rookie
They lost to the currently 6th placed Parra with close to a full contingent as well. On paper the Cows team that beat them last week is not in the same league as the Storm. The warning signs are there, that they’ll be in trouble come the business end of the season.
Adam Clements
Roar Rookie
They definitely don’t have the depth to flex that they used to, injuries to Hughes, Paps and a couple of key forwards like Welch exposed that. They’re a victim of their own success, as most other teams wouldn’t face this sort of scrutiny if they had a few players down with injury, but it comes with the territory when you’ve been at the top for so long.