Can any team beat the Storm?

[Burg]

Ok, I know we are only 9 rounds in and the Storm has already lost 2 games, but...can any team now beat the Storm?

From a Bronco point of view, if you said to me Lockyer has really only played 2 games, Marsh, Parker, Hodges, Hunt, Carroll and Clinton all been out for extened periods of time in the first 9 rounds, what position are the Broncos? I would say, somewhere near last... _woohoo_

Now ask me, after all the teams that I have seen play up to round 9, and seen how poorly the Storm have played, and knowing how good they could play if they need to, what team could beat them this year?

As far as I can see, every team is competing to lose to the Storm in GF 08. No other team has the size, strenght, speed nor skill across the field to rival them. Parramatta sort of does but are playing like the lost boys at present. The Broncos, maybe, but lack size up front and out wide, the Titans look good at home but the GF is not played at the GC. The Knights, Manly and Tigers look good with the ball, but not enough game breakers. Roosters and Warriors have the size, but lack skill in the backs and halves, same as the Sharks, Panthers, Bulldogs and Dragons. Souths and Raiders are just funny, Cowboys have skill but wont make the 8.

Storm by 20 in the GF, don't care who they are playing.

 

[ningnangnong]

Re: Can team beat the Storm?

I can't believe how good they are.

Nothing fancy, they just go about their business. Quick play the balls, quickly up in the defensive line and they are a super fit team.

You'd think with some of the players they have they'd be a fancy attacking outfit, but most of their tries come crafted from set plays, nothing improvised or on the spur of the moment, they practice everything they do.

They are a brilliantly organised side and i really can't see anyone beating them, except us. :mrgreen:

 

[Jeba]

Re: Can team beat the Storm?

The panic button being hit already?

Geez boys I watched that game tonight and if the Storm are as unbeatable as you say they are then they would've put 50 on the Knights. They were tackled around 40 times in the Knights' 20m in the first half tonight, and yet we went to the break at 0-0!!!! Yes they had players backing up from the Test but the Knights would've been a lot more buggered than the Storm were at that stage with all the goal line defence they had to do. In the end, they had to rely on a bomb to Falou to finally get them over the tryline. They are lucky they've got that for their get out of jail card or else they'll run out of ideas. Yes they did some good things to get across the tryline twice after that but any decent team would've gone on with it.

No doubt they deserve to be competition favourites but they are definately not unbeatable and a bit ridiculous to be predicting Grand Final results and margins just yet.

 

[Jeba]

Re: Can team beat the Storm?

The thing is Jeb, no matter who they play or what they do, or how bad they play they just seem to win THAT game. By what you're telling me, maybe they are lucky to win tonights game in the end?

That's our point I guess - They ended up winning it anyway. They win the games they shouldn't and they win the games they should. It's frustrating to watch and it's hard to see them not play in the GF this year if they keep it up.

**** no they weren't lucky to win it. They should've won by more, if what we are saying about them being unbeatable is true. Tonight was a game they should've won well and they just ground it out. Put them against a full strenght, really well coached team that is also well prepared and they are beatable and its not out of the question that we will not see them in the Grand Final.

 

[BroncoMatt]

Re: Can team beat the Storm?

Let's see how they go after Origin....


Crazy crystal Ball selection, they'll finish 6th or 7th, and drop out of the finals in the 2nd week

 

[Alec]

Re: Can team beat the Storm?

If Cameron Smith gets injured, anyone can beat the Storm.

 

[Guest]

Re: Can team beat the Storm?

As far as I can see, every team is competing to lose to the Storm in GF 08.

What, just like in 2006? Sure they are a good side, and they'll probably finish minor premiers, but anyone (maybe even souths) can potential beat them on the day

 

[Coxy]

Re: Can team beat the Storm?

They're no better than they were in 2006. Very beatable. They have a game plan...a monotonous, boring game plan...but if you can unsettle them you can beat them. A la Grand Final 2006.

And don't discount how much of an impact Origin is going to have on them. Let's wait for team selections today, they will likely have the following players unavailable next week for a start:

Slater
Folau
Inglis
C. Smith
White
Hoffman
Johnson
Kaufusi
Crocker

And can't rule out Quinn, Turner or Cronk getting a show.

They've never experienced this kind of drain. They will almost certainly lose to the Dragons this week, and if they have any players who struggle with injury in the next couple of months they could well be in the pack come the run to the finals.

And Peter Sterling was right. Melbourne's game plan is boring to watch. It's all quick rucks etc out of their own half, and then in attack just a bunch of set plays. Rarely any individual brilliance or anything particularly breathtaking.

Lots of people here used to bag the Broncos for being boring, and yet lap up the Storm's style of play. Seriously seems to be a culture around here of bagging the Broncos to try and appear unbiased.

 

[Burg]

No, not like 2006. Because since then we have lost a huge amount of experiance, and its that experiance that wins you those types of games. Players like Webcke, Petero, Carlaw, Berrigan, Tate, McGuire and Thorn made a huge difference to the out come of that game. The Storm didn't make the same mistake twice and was a lot better prepared mentally for 2007. The Rock is right, the Storm are playing badly this year, ana look very beatable and yet they still win. Besides a 1 point win is worth the same as a 60 point win. The only way I see them being beaten is if teh same thing that happened to us last year happen to them. They lose Smith (and then the next 3 replacements), Slater, Inglis, Falou, Turner, Geyer, Cronk and Johnson, lets see them compete then.

 

[Coxy]

No, not like 2006. Because since then we have lost a huge amount of experiance, and its that experiance that wins you those types of games. Players like Webcke, Petero, Carlaw, Berrigan, Tate, McGuire and Thorn made a huge difference to the out come of that game. The Storm didn't make the same mistake twice and was a lot better prepared mentally for 2007. The Rock is right, the Storm are playing badly this year, ana look very beatable and yet they still win. Besides a 1 point win is worth the same as a 60 point win. The only way I see them being beaten is if teh same thing that happened to us last year happen to them. They lose Smith (and then the next 3 replacements), Slater, Inglis, Falou, Turner, Geyer, Cronk and Johnson, lets see them compete then.

Burg, I don't give a flying fig if it's the Broncos or anyone else that meets them in the Grand Final (assuming they make it, I don't think they will). If you shut down Inglis, you shut down the Storm. That's a fact. Nothing's changed. They aren't smart enough footballers to adjust if their game plan isn't working.

And if they're fighting post-Origin fatigue later in the season they'll be even LESS capable of coping with a team that's taking it to them.

I'll predict now that if they face a game like last night in 6 weeks time, the Storm will capitulate.

 

[mick]

They can be stopped, just like any team. Sh*t happens in football, even to the best, and it'll take a mighty effort to dominate the comp for three years and winning back-to-back titles in this day and age.

Wait to see some form lines developing from about round 18. Several teams, including us, definitely have the ability to storm home, form and injury permitting. I rarely take form lines from the first 10-14 weeks in the competition into account when tipping a winner. These rounds are here for cementing a place in the top eight, that's it. With around eight weeks to go to the finals, that's when you want to be finding a new level and improving.

 

[Kaz]

If a team allows the Storm to dictate how the game is played the Storm win.

But disrupt their game plan & the Storm lose, as the can't handle it.

Classic example is the 2006 GF.

 

[Chumba]

The storm had a lot of players out for last years s.o.o series and still went pretty well.

I think if our pack can get back to backing up and offloading, our fully fit team could give the storm a real run for its money, but while ever we do this one up crap, we will get smashed, get tired and then have 40 put on us no matter who takes the field... its so simple and the fact that the coaches can't get them to change their style is very worrying for me and waste of a potentally great attacking side.

 

[Hamm.0]

The thing you all forget (well some of you), is the Storm have been the dominant team for the last 2 seasons, and pretty much the team this season.

That said;

The Storm are about to experience the second real year of Origin duties. The Storm have been lucky enough to not obtained any real injuries to key players, in their last 2 seasons. God forbid, Cam Smith, Cronk, Inglis does a nasty.

Whilst I don't believe the Storm's performance has been lucky, or anything other than hard work, on the injury front they have been blessed.

Luck doesn't last forever.

P.S. Let's not forget they are a bunch of cheating wrestling, nigglers!!!!

 

[Hamm.0]

If a team allows the Storm to dictate how the game is played the Storm win.

I loved how Cronulla shut them down in Rnd 2. Kick the ball dead every set, don't allow broken field play. Broncos tackled them out in 06 GF.

Like anything; if it bleeds, we can kill it.

 

[mick]

Re: Can team beat the Storm?

[quote="The Rock":70x2z5do]
As for Melbourne - The only way anyone is going to beat them this year is if we play them in the GF with a full strength team or if they have some injuries.

or if the referee screws them over again icon_thumbs_u
[/quote:70x2z5do]

:roll:

 

[Coxy]

Stu: it goes both ways. There were some ordinary calls both ways, the Storm ones were more memorable.

Just do us all a favour and admit you're not a Broncos fan, because you pretty much bag them at any opportunity.

 

[Coxy]

No, I agree, blind faith is, well, blind. But it's not a good sign of support if you only ever highlight the negatives. You're a bit like our old "friend" Phantom from around these parts, only bag them, never praise them. Though I'll give you some credit, you at least post whether the Broncos win or lose. Phantom only posts when they're losing.