The Melbourne Storm’s ongoing presence in the finals over the past two decades puts El Nino or any other long-term weather pattern to shame for longevity.
Apart from a self-inflicted blip on the radar in 2010 when their salary cap rorting was uncovered and they were forced to play for no premiership points, they’ve been part of the playoff furniture in every season of Craig Bellamy’s two-decade stint as coach.
They will probably be there again next year but for the first time in a long, long time, there are genuine questions over Melbourne being legitimate title contenders next year.
Their first-round finals exit via last Saturday’s 28-20 home loss to Canberra equals the worst result during Bellamy’s tenure apart from the sanctions season 12 years ago.
It’s remarkable that any club in a salary-capped professional sports league can make it through to at least the second round of the playoffs in 17 years out of 20. Asterisk time, it must also be noted that they were later found to be rorting that cap in four of those seasons.
Cameron Munster, Brandon Smith and Nelson Asofa-Solomona are dejected after the NRL Elimination Final loss to Canberra. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Still, the Bellamy formula for success, which has yielded three premierships in the past 10 years, cannot be questioned.
What can be viewed with less certainty are their chances of competing for the 2023 title.
And before this case is presented any further, for all the rabid Storm fans who think this is a conspiracy against their club, yes, my eyes are painted on, of course this is part of the northern media’s grand plan to bring the club undone and you’re right, there is an inherent bias against your team and your team alone by anyone not wearing purple.
Looking at their roster for next year and it’s undeniably a playoff contender. Sprinkle in the Bellamy magic touch and the Storm could very well challenge for a top-four berth.
Felise Kaufusi. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
The spine of Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant is up there with the best in the NRL although Munster’s ongoing contract negotiations will be an unwelcome distraction until his 2024 whereabouts are finally locked in.
Storm legend Cameron Smith on Monday conceded it looks a fait accompli that Munster would be heading elsewhere with all signs pointing to Redcliffe where the Dolphins are swimming in cash for a marquee recruit.
“If I’m brutally honest, if he was going to commit to the Melbourne Storm and sign on and extend his contract, he would’ve done so by now,” Smith said on his SEN radio show. “That’s my gut feeling.
“He’s been at the club since he was 16 years of age and we’ve heard (Munster’s manager) Braith Anasta come out and say the Melbourne Storm offer is in the area where it should be, so what’s holding him back? I’d love him to stay but I feel like he will be going to the Dolphins.”
Justin Olam, Nick Meaney, Xavier Coates give the Storm finishing touches out wide and Christian Welch’s return from a torn Achilles gives their pack another rampaging big body alongside Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Tui Kamikamica.
Dragons veteran Tariq Sims and Warriors second-rower Eliesa Katoa will also bolster their forwards but the rest of their depth is not what it once was.
As we saw this year when Welch, Reimis Smith, Papenhuyzen and George Jennings had their season cut short by injury, the Storm had to call up players from the Queensland Cup or give rookies a run.
It’s perfectly understandable but they haven’t been able to fully replenish their playing stocks from the annual departure of top-line talent over the past few years.
Brandon Smith. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Names like Josh Addo-Carr, Suliasi Vunivalu, Dale Finucane, Nicho Hynes and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui were further body blows for a club which managed to keep fighting for title belts even when the departures of Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Cameron Smith should have knocked them to the canvas.
And now they are saying farewell to a combined 788 NRL games, 56 Tests and 14 Origins worth of talent this off-season with Felise Kaufusi, Jesse and Kenny Bromwich and Brandon Smith on the move.
The star quartet also have eight premiership rings between them.
Smith is taking up a lucrative offer with the Roosters with the other three headed to the Dolphins.
First-choice 2023 squad
1 Ryan Papenhuyzen
2 Nick Meaney
3 Reimis Smith
4 Justin Olam
5 Xavier Coates
6 Cameron Munster
7 Jahrome Hughes
8 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
9 Harry Grant
10 Christian Welch
11 Tariq Sims
12 Eliesa Katoa
13 Josh King
14 Tyran Wishart
15 Trent Loeiro
16 Tui Kamikamica
17 Tepai Moeroa
Others under contract: George Jennings, Jack Howarth, Marion Seve, Grant Anderson, Jordan Grant, Dean Ieremia, Jayden Nikorima, Jonah Pezet and Will Warbrick.
Wayne Bennett’s expansion team will have an adverse effect, as tends to happen when expansion occurs, on no team more than the Storm.
Melbourne have functioned as Queensland’s unofficial fourth team for most of their existence but the Dolphins’ arrival is another competitor for both established NRL talent and the next Munster, Kaufusi or Grant coming down the Sunshine State pipeline.
Bellamy has earned the right to renew his tenure at the Storm on a year to year basis and has only committed for next season as he wages his annual battle with the temptation of making a transition to the Gold Coast, the retiree hot spot, not the Titans.
(Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Slater, after an uber impressive coaching debut steering Queensland to an upset win in this year’s State of Origin series, should be viewed as his natural successor at the Storm.
If he proves his first-up Origin was no fluke next year, he will become the next Craig Fitzgibbon/Cameron Ciraldo if he isn’t already, the coach in waiting who will be inundated with offers from cashed-up CEOs looking for the next Bellamy.
The Storm could even face the possibility of thinking the unthinkable, not tapping Bellamy on the shoulder, but telling him it’s time to make that transition into an overseeing coaching director role with Slater assuming the reins.
It’s unwise to predict the demise of the Storm but the long-term forecast is as uncertain as it’s ever been heading into next season.
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Dumbo
Roar Rookie
I would be concerned for the Storm if they bring in Billy Slater as head coach. It's one thing to coach the Maroons - selecting the best squad available from 16/17 teams. Those players are going to be good and experienced and motivated in every match. It's not the same as an NRL Club coach. You've got to develop your players and make them better. Craig Bellamy has been the best at doing this. Billy Slater has never had to do it.
Panthers
Guest
Again, where in my first comment, did I mention any players by name ? Or mention any players being bought from any grade in particular? Nowhere! Which I already explained. It would be hard to stockpile players, when the other players who can play in the halves are already also being bought away. Burton, O’Sullivan . Then many are suggesting that Falls should be bought by other clubs too? Aren’t they entitled to produce any other halves to be future first graders at Penrith? Other clubs can do so . Is stockpiling having any other local juniors that play in the halves , at the club at all? As that’s what you’re saying. I think other clubs have some other halves at their clubs, other than at the first grade level. Evidently, this rule only applies to Penrith. Again, it’s a big pity that Katoa can’t play future first grade games at his junior club. Pity Burton can’t play at his pathways club. Pity O’Sullivan can’t stay for a while at his juniors club. I guess Penrith have to produce even more decent halves for the future of Penrith. Then hope that perhaps one can get to first grade at Penrith. Without it being stockpiling? :stoked:
Chris
Guest
Yes , Townsend is from Cronulla. He’s a veteran & they decided to go in another direction. However, he did help them win a competition. Where’s their own young halves now? Wouldn’t give you much for the halves at the Titans. Dearden, wasn’t going anywhere at the Broncos & they let him go . With that , I guess you have to say well done to the Cowboys. As he’s going well up there. Walker & Hunt. Got a point there, but is that it over the last 10 plus years? Clearly, your not going anywhere or appearing in the 8 unless you can produce some decent halves . Goes for the hooker position too. Or you buy them….
matth
Roar Guru
I showed very clearly year by year that Penrith have bought as many players from other clubs and regions as anyone else over the years. If you look at Redcliffe’s top 30 and development contracts they have taken multiple players from Melbourne, North QLD, Souths, Newcastle. And actually Panthers supporters started this. I wrote an article looking at lessons for the new franchise from the Panther’s experience where their two best periods were on the back of juniors plus country players and that their dodgy early years were on the back of buying in. Instead of engaging with that Panthers supporters had a big whinge because they lost a half they were stockpiling behind Nathan Cleary
Panthers
Guest
You have so little clue about the facts at all. Penrith weren’t out buying other clubs ‘junior grades players’ on mass , at any time. Sitting unsigned? Clubs don’t usually have to sign all their SG Ball players to first grade sized contracts. Everyone, look out the Dolphins are here! Don’t have first grade ready players? Doesn’t go along with signing SG Ball players. Where to next, Signing up the 10 year olds? You shove any signings into the ‘ need first grade players ‘ box. Well they’re also signing up first graders & NSW Cup/ Queensland Cup level players & fair enough. It would be better if they looked at every club, but there you go. Why’d you 3 guys go back to this crap anyway? All I stated to start with , was that Penrith have the players coming through with ability, that can replace those that are being bought , by other clubs. That there should be compensation by some means , for clubs that develop their own players & have them bought away from the club. No amount of look at this or that, is going to change ‘that as being a fact ‘! You have no argument against that. After the catty comment about by Duncan about ‘ enjoy 2022 , as your players are being bought after 2022 ‘! You are the ones that are obsessed with the why the Dolphins need to sign up very young players. I didn’t even mention your Porpoises, in my first comment. Looks like you can’t stand anyone making comments , other than the suck up, ‘oh yes & so well said Duncan , Nat , Matt’ . Jolly good show old man! :shocked:
matth
Roar Guru
All true. Top shelf halves are hard to produce. And when they turn up they are squabbled over like seagulls on a chip. Brisbane have produced a couple of decent halves over the past decade. Ben Hunt, Tom Dearden and Sam Walker. They lost both of them. Cowboys lost Michael Morgan to injury forced early retirement. Then they pinned their hopes on Jake Clifford. As for Cronulla, wasn’t Townsend theirs? I don’t know if Trindall came through the Sharks system. Halves seem to be difficult. Brisbane have high hopes for Ezra Mamm and it wouldn’t surprise if Reece Walsh (another that came through their system) becomes a half at some point. The Titans had Fogarty and gave him up. They are running with a spine developed all internally at the moment
matth
Roar Guru
You have so little clue about the realities of the competition and how a team starts. The point of that article was to show how a team starts because certain whining Panthers supporters were saying The Dolphins shouldn’t buy their players when Penrith did exactly the same thing throughout their history. As previously explained many, many times: Of course The Dolphins do not have a large group of ready made first graders to present. If there were any they would already be signed to other NRL clubs. Same goes for any decent junior . The Dolphins NRL pathway only starts next year. NRL ready players are already in the NRL. NRL clubs scout and sign juniors. Redcliffe juniors haven’t been left alone by other clubs just in case they were to join the NEL at some point. If Penrith was entering the NRL in 2023 do you seriously think all their NRL and State of Origin standard juniors would have just been sitting around unsigned in the second tier waiting or do you maybe think they’d already be signed with another club? Of course the Dolphins have to buy a team this year. Even so they still have taken on a healthy mix of their own players, returning Queenslanders and others.
Ken
Guest
People who never heard of Will Warbrick will be seeing a lot of him next year .
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I'm talking about missing key players. Mitchell was missing in the GF and he has been a key figure in title wins and SOO wins. If Souths had of won last season without Mitchell then it would have defeated my general point in which I claim depth is overrated. If a team wins a GF with their back up halves I'll be surprised. Winning in the regular season with the backups isn't the same.
Chris
Guest
What’s that got to do with their Halves? They lost then & had an arguably better halfback than now. I think you’ve come off the tracks, when it comes to talking about halves? They don’t have the same coach now either, which is just as irrelevant to the halves , as talking about Mitchell. :laughing:
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Souths almost beat the Pennies in the GF without Trellmilko. Almost winning isn't winning though and that's the point. Winning thru the finals without your best is a lot different to the regular season.
Chris
Guest
Well , I don’t know? They defeated South’s the last time , with both of their NSW Cup halves., both local products. Where as South’s for example, no Walker means no hope. If Penrith were allowed to keep the next up local junior halves , they’d be very good . Katoa, local junior & is good. In any case, I think I’d already shown that none of the others are any better.
Chris
Guest
Those clubs aren’t producing any decent halves either. Even with a lot of good forwards & backs at the Cowboys. Had to buy in halves. Brisbane pick up good players from all over Queensland & everywhere else. Only a couple of decent halves in years. Had to buy one in. Cronulla have been producing a lot of good players lately. Had to buy in their halves. Roosters are now producing a lot of good young players ( from the central coast & elsewhere ), had to buy their halves in. Pretty hopeless!
Panthers
Guest
So what your saying, is don’t give credit (or anything else) for the excellent job the Panthers are doing with producing their own players now. That also started some years before they had much success. Hark on about 30-40 years in the past? Don’t copy what Penrith are doing now ? Just buy up their players now. If your new team gets accepted into the NRL , they give an assurance that they have a thriving juniors system. Wasn’t you that said how long they’ve been around for? Yet, they not only need to raid other clubs for first grade , reserve ( NSW Cup / Queensland Cup ) level players. They also need to raid them of their junior grades players. Which Penrith never did . Looks like they lied about having any decent juniors themselves. Anyway, it was one of you 3 Gurus started on about ‘ enjoy 2023 ‘ , without the players others clubs are buying this time. Not me! I was just happy about the fact that there’s still good players on the way up. Maybe one day, far, far into the future. Even the Dolphins will be able to say that? They’ve got none after 70 years or whatever amount of time, so I doubt it. :laughing:
D9ionysus
Guest
Munster is something of an enigma. When he debuted in 1st grade, I thought WOW this kid is good. I thought that he would have been Captaining the Storm by now and have had a string of accolades including Dally Ms and the like. But gee, has that early promise been wasted. I watch him now and OK he has talent and OK he has the odd brilliant game but nothing like the Munster we saw in that first year. This time last year, I said that it was time for Munster to go. This year, while he has played (& behaved) much better, I won't be sad to see him leave. Definitely Not in the Mil plus club in my estimation.
matth
Roar Guru
Ssshhh. You can't mention this. I did it once in great detail year by year since 1967 and I was accused of fake news. https://www.theroar.com.au/2022/07/05/penriths-recruitment-history-and-lessons-for-the-dolphins/
matth
Roar Guru
Someone new will come up. This year it has been the Cowboys and to a lesser extent the Sharks. who knows who jumps out of the woodwork next year?
Brendon
Roar Rookie
Tough call for sure, but to be fair, when he was playing 5/8, he wasn't lighting the world on fire either was he? There were literally 5 amazing games. He is a great player, don't get me wrong, and I'd love him to stay, but I don't think his loss would be felt as bad as Slater, Smith or Cronks was. And lets be honest, he is an amazing player when playing in front, but definitely not the best catch up player.
James
Guest
Keep huffing that copium :laughing:
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
D, I think we'll see Jack Howarth in 2023, Joey Chan has signed also, Sims & Katoa to hold the fort, Tepai Moeroa back from injury (he was going great prior) makes them look a lot more solid, plus whoever else rises from the feeder clubs. Interesting times as it always is watching the Storm work through their planning and development.