Melbourne Storm - End of an era?

[Big Pete]

Since 2006, Melbourne has been the benchmark club of the NRL. Despite their involvement in arguably the biggest Australian sporting scandal in history - Melbourne always had a knack of finishing in the final four and never looked like slowing down. That was until Saturday when they were eliminated by a valiant Newcastle Knights outfit. It appears even their most ardent supporters are beginning to lose faith in the enterprise, throwing around such labels as the club being a "shell of it's former self", and with the careers of Cam Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater beginning to wind down - maybe they have a point?

So how long does this run of dominance last? Was 2013 the swansong or can they bounce back next year?

 

[Russell Coight]

They just looked tired this year, and I'm beginning to think Billy has lost his spark.

 

[Big Pete]

Personally, I think they'll be just fine in the interim. When you have the likes of Slater, Cronk & Smith you're always going to be a chance and I believe they have a list of quality players coming through.

Just have a look at this potential side for 2014...

1. Billy Slater
2. Sisa Waqa
3. Will Chambers
4. Hymel Hunt
5. Justin O'Neil
6. Cody Walker
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Cam Smith
10. Bryan Norrie
11. Kevin Proctor
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Ryan Hinchcliffe

14. Jordan McLean
15. Tohu Harris
16. George Rose
17. Slade Griffin

With the likes of Matt Duffie, Young Tonumaipea, Matt Lodge, Travis Robinson, Ken Bromwich, Mahe Fonua, Junior Moors, Tim Glasby, Ben Hampton, Kurt Mann, Cameron Munster, Denny Solomona etc. waiting in the wings. They still have a quality roster and I'm sure they'll be more inspired than ever to set things right.

 

[Alec]

They won the Grand Final last year. A few teams go through burnout afterwards.

I don't think the big 3 are slowing down due to age yet, they have just been playing too much footy. Slater looks like he has been injured all year too.

 

[KingWebcke]

I think they'll be fine. all of the big 3 still have gas left in the tank and they still have a good supporting cast. In fact, many of their supporting players are pretty young and are only going to get better. I expect O'Neill, Waqa, McLean, Harris, Kenny Bromwich to continue improving ...

Billy has been carrying a PCL for almost the entire season and it has shown in his limited movement from side to side. so when you consider how well he has played this year (which is still pretty blood good) and remember that he was playing at well below 100% fitness, I don't think it is unrealistic to say he will still be a star player in 2014 ... especially with an off-season to get his knee right

 

[Broncoman]

I remember this being said after the 2008 season

The big 3 still have at least 2-3 good years still left in them which means Melbourne are firmed as one of the NRL's heavyweight teams for that period but they need to get stuck in to development of their juniors and feeder clubs to ensure the club remains a force after the big 3 retire.

While Bellamy is there as well I expect Melbourne to remain a force as he has built the Storm's legacy and made them one of the heavyweights.

 

[Sproj]

I think they have one more big season left in them and then it will be downhill from there. It will be tough forget from 2015 and beyond but they will play us in the big dance next season in the first weekend of October where we will take their mantle for the next ten years with Barba, DCE and Hunt/Milford leading us there.

 

[Nashy]

There was something going on this year, they just weren't the Melbourne we're used to.

On the positive, we don't have to see much of that arrogant self loving douchebag of a coach. Seriously, Bellamy just comes across as a massive POS who needs to check himself into anger management. Or at least needs to cop a punch to the face to knock him down a peg or two.

 

[Bull Shark]

inb4 storm are 7-0 by end of April

 

[Harry Sack]

inb4 storm are 7-0 by end of April

Tipping them to make the GF next year.

 

[Harry Sack]

They have started (legally) paying overs for players though which is a concern.

 

[Anonymous person]

theres obviously been a huge change in them this year from previous years, anyone whos watched their games could tell you that. that seems to be the problem around here - most people dont actually seem to watch many games other than broncos games and maybe the other friday night game, and as such they dont really have any idea how teams/players are going other than what the media/commentators tell them. they just assume that the storm are playing awesome and are the form team of the competition, so when newcastle beat them all of a sudden its "Newcastle are the best team! wayne bennett is a genius and the best coach atm!" when really it should be "yeh we kinda saw that coming, not unexpected".

slater has been playing extremely busted since early in the year. how hes managed to play to the high quality that he has is a testament to how tough and how great a player he is. cronk has had a very patchy season, which is highly out of character for him. hes probably the most consistent player in the game usually. hes been kicking out on the full numerous times a match, passing to the ground, passing over the sideline. smith has turned in some shockers, among the worst games hes ever played, and his usually pinpoint goal kicking has been way off most of the year. hoffman hasnt been very effective at all at his usual pet play with cronk, or just in general play. they lost their regular five-eighth for an extended period of time.

i hate to say it, but i dont think theyre going to rise to their former heights again. the big 3 are all over 30 now, have played origin for going on 10 years, have played more games than probably any other players over those 10 years, and put in 100% every single week regardless of being 50 points down or 50 points up. while those 3 are there theyll always be competitive, but its gonna take a damn big effort to get them to another grand final imo.

 

[Huge]

I expect Melbourne to continue to produce quality players and performances. The three stars will move on but provided Bellamy remains ,just like WB he will continue to turn ordinary players into top shelf performers. I would be optimistic as a Melbourne fan if Bellamy remained however should he leave then Melbournes future would nosedive. The great game of rugby league will continue to produce great players and great coaches. In the short term Melbourne have nothing to worry about.

 

[OXY-351]

They appeared to me to be a team this year that were a little complacent - thinking that they would just continue to be successful as they had in previous years if they continued to do the same thing - and in doing so seemed to lack the spark and desire of the previous years. I wonder if not reaching a grand final this year will actually spur them on even more next year, but then again given they so desperately wanted to win a gf post the salary cap issue and the fact they did so makes me also wonder if they reached their everest and they feel like they can't go any higher now. It must be hard to keep the fire burning when the team and more so the 3 big names have acheived so much over so long.

 

[Mr Fourex]

Mehh .......they lose one game to NTLE and they're supposed to be all washed up?

I don't think so.

I think that's one of the worst games I have seen Cooper Cronk play and really for their own standards, Smith and Slater weren't far behind.

If they all played to their usual standards against the Knights, this would be a non- issue. Everyone has an off day.

Be interesting to see how they fill Widdop's departure........they certainly could stand to have someone else picking up the slack if the big 3 do have an off game.

 

[Alec]

They've signed some pretty promising QLD Cup halves. It should be the easiest job in the world to settle in first grade playing alongside the big 3.

 

[Socnorb]

Mehh .......they lose one game to NTLE and they're supposed to be all washed up?

I don't think so.

I think that's one of the worst games I have seen Cooper Cronk play and really for their own standards, Smith and Slater weren't far behind.

If they all played to their usual standards against the Knights, this would be a non- issue. Everyone has an off day.

Be interesting to see how they fill Widdop's departure........they certainly could stand to have someone else picking up the slack if the big 3 do have an off game.

Pick up the slack for the big 3 ! I'm pretty sure everyone here would be happy with a big 1.

 

[Coxy]

Slater must've been carrying injuries all year. He's looked almost tentative. Nowhere near the player that was unstoppable since about 2005.