We let it slip

[Itzbek the Purple]

However in the real world we struggled for the last month and lost our 2 finals games.

Yep and that's the reason why i don't see it as a missed opportunity in any way shape or form this year. If we were in great form leading up to the finals and dropped a game after having a bad one then it definitely would've been a missed opportunity but we were well down on form the best part of 6 weeks and you just can't take that into a finals series and expect any different to the results we had.

+1

[stormy]

When shame hayne refs us you can always predict when opposition will get their penalties.If Storm get off to a great start he will step in and help the opposition ,he will see how far they get down the ground by the 4th tackle then he will pay a ridiculous penalty to get them a try or penalty kick.I have no confidence in shame hayne or luke patten.

[glennb]

Well said Stormy. I often watch games with Hayne as the ref ( not always Storm games) and say this set there will be a penalty and there always is.

[MENACING*STORM]

I think it was a blessing in disguise we didn't win against the Knights.
Seeing the Roosters demolish the Knights on Saturday, I can't imagine how much we would have been dismantled against the red hot Roosters.
I would even say we would've got a bigger hiding than 40-0. Luckily this never happened and all the focus was on the Rabbitohs failure to reach the Grand Final.

Rest up lads and get ready for an assault for 2014.

[stormy]

I think Storm have a different mindset for different teams.they would have gone into the game against the chooks with a very determined attitude. We did beat them earlier this season.

[coupy73]

Just done a bit of a calculation and the following shows the 'table' of the top 8 with results against other teams in the top 8 for 2013 regular season


Storm 17
roosters 16
south 14
manly 11
dogs 10
cowboys 10
knights 8
sharks 4

[blazza18]

But we're the ones not playing on Sunday night.

[Bourbon Rat]

Stats don't matter - 80 minutes on the field does

[coupy73]

But we're the ones not playing on Sunday night.

Pretty much my point, you dont have to be the best team in the competition to be crowned 'the best team in the competition'
Not that we deserved it this year.