Your honest opinion...
We all know Storm aren't going as well as past seasons. We all know there are young inexperienced players in the squad. We all know there has been a huge turnover in ownership, staff and our squad this year. We all know we are hit once again by Origin. We all know our star players are just that little bit older, maybe a little bit slower? We accept there is perhaps a re-building phase happening. And we all know that it's an absolute mission for any team or club to consistently perform and be at the pinnacle of the NRL year in, year out.
My question of us all is what exactly do each of us honestly see as the real or main issues in 2014 for the Storm?
My question of us all is what exactly do each of us honestly see as the real or main issues in 2014 for the Storm?
Very good answer. Is that enough though?
We've seen teams creating attack this year more than ever since I started watching & we know that it attack is built on a solid platform from the forwards but we seem to be lacking in this aspect. We all know the best defensive teams are going to be thereabouts but it seems that even those teams mix it up a bit in their attack. Are we too rigid in our game plan? I believe we have the talent...
We've seen teams creating attack this year more than ever since I started watching & we know that it attack is built on a solid platform from the forwards but we seem to be lacking in this aspect. We all know the best defensive teams are going to be thereabouts but it seems that even those teams mix it up a bit in their attack. Are we too rigid in our game plan? I believe we have the talent...
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brisbanestorm
- Hail Storm
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Yeah I think our attack is a bit too rigid now. Set structure was alright when we had a better forward pack than all of the other teams, but now that it is more of a run of the mill pack offloads and off the cuff play is more important. We show when we actually throw the ball around that we are very capable, but unfortunately this only happens rarely. t iGenerally only when we are chasing a game.
In terms of defence.. It is easy to say that our wingers and centres cant defend but good defence needs to start from the middle of the field. I think this is one area where we have not been as good this year. Where previously we would have shutting plays down before other teams got the ball wide, now we are finding teams easily get the ball in the hands of their centres and wingers and its all over from there. The quality of outside backs in the NRL is always going to make it easier to attack than to defend
In terms of defence.. It is easy to say that our wingers and centres cant defend but good defence needs to start from the middle of the field. I think this is one area where we have not been as good this year. Where previously we would have shutting plays down before other teams got the ball wide, now we are finding teams easily get the ball in the hands of their centres and wingers and its all over from there. The quality of outside backs in the NRL is always going to make it easier to attack than to defend
Spot on STORM FAN. Our ruck domination is nowhere near what it has been in previous years. No doubt partly because of the change in rules which have sped up the ruck. In other years I believe we could have coped and managed things a bit better but our squad is just not up to it this year.
Our forwards haven't wanted to roll their sleeves up and get down and dirty to stop opposition momentum and our outside backs have been atrocious in defence. Literally all of them. Going in to 2014 with ONE centre really was astounding to me.
I always hold out hope we can turn it around but a number of factors unfortunately make me think that is not likely this year (other factors inc; injuries, abysmal refereeing, selection stubbornness).
Our forwards haven't wanted to roll their sleeves up and get down and dirty to stop opposition momentum and our outside backs have been atrocious in defence. Literally all of them. Going in to 2014 with ONE centre really was astounding to me.
I always hold out hope we can turn it around but a number of factors unfortunately make me think that is not likely this year (other factors inc; injuries, abysmal refereeing, selection stubbornness).
I look forward to looking back on this thread when Cameron Smith lifts that premiership trophy aloft in early October.
What keeps me so optimistic? That last game Cooper played for us against Souths. We played at a simialr standard to what we were playing at when Cam Smith last lofted the premiership.
What keeps me so optimistic? That last game Cooper played for us against Souths. We played at a simialr standard to what we were playing at when Cam Smith last lofted the premiership.
Defence is the big one, it's been disgraceful all season. I don't think Bellamy's defensive structure has adapted to the new quicker game. Teams are moving the ball quicker now, and our defensive up and in style has been caught out because of it.
Our attack has never been able to get comfortable and work on new combinations. Ever since the offseason, I doubt our full strength spine has played more than 2 games together. So that isn't a good thing.
I still have hopes that when Cronk returns and we fix the defence a bit we can go on a run in September. Just have to get there first.
Our attack has never been able to get comfortable and work on new combinations. Ever since the offseason, I doubt our full strength spine has played more than 2 games together. So that isn't a good thing.
I still have hopes that when Cronk returns and we fix the defence a bit we can go on a run in September. Just have to get there first.
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brisbanestorm
- Hail Storm
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I think even if we limp into the finals we will win a few games. Pretty much every big game we've had this year we've stepped up and won. As Blazza said its all about getting there first. Hopefully we get through wednesday without any more disruptions. A full strength team can take us a fair way
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mattstormy
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My honest opinion is that we suck 
. Anyway getting to the point, I seriously think the current squad is on par with Muppet's 2002 squad. If people say we aren’t in a rebuilding phase they are kidding themselves. Half the problem was that after 2010, the club pretty much wanted to win a quick premiership to stick it up the NRL and all the critics without any thought about building to the future. Here are the problems:
Ageing Big 3 - We locked the Big 3 away on long term contracts, taking up the majority of the salary cap to prevent any other club from getting their hands on them instead of bringing up youth through the under 20s system (maybe keeping only Cam would have been sufficient, who knows??). At the moment, I can see Billy retiring at the end of 2015 when his contract expires and maybe the same for Coops at the end of 2016 , so we may as well start building towards replacing them soon.
Outside Backs - The problem is that we recruit too many forwards instead of durable solid outside backs and that is where the main issue is. It astounds me that Travis Robinson hasn’t even played a game yet this year yet Sisa Waqa is playing busted and is horribly out of form, Mahe Fonua is playing in the wrong position (should be coming off the bench) and Young Tonumaipea is not scoring enough tries for a winger. Matt Duffie and Justin O’Neill are way too injury prone and have become a liability. The only guy to steer the ship in the outside backs is Will Chambers. Kurt Mann also looks like a promising long term aspect aswell.
Five-Eighth - We have not had a quality five-eighth over the last few years and really have never had a specialist one since Scott Hill (Inglis was not a five-eighth, Finch took a back seat to Cronk, Widdop never flourished here unlike how he is at St. George and Hampton shows signs of promise but probably wasn’t developed properly as a playmaker). A lot of people have all pretty much given up on Hampton so it might be up to getting veterans such as Ben Roberts or Blake Green to fill the spot for a couple of years or so.
Forwards – Our forward pack has never been big, and constantly over the years we have been recruiting rejects and has-beens from other clubs and while some of them were good at the time, they are not long term prospects. Apart from clubman Bryan Norrie who will stay loyal to the Storm and probably play out his career here, Troy Thompson, Jaiman Lowe, Adam Woolnough and Jason Ryles are all gone. We’ve got a core group of good forwards such as Ryan Hinchcliffe, Jesse & Kenny Bromwich, Kevin Proctor and Tohu Harris, but it isn’t enough. Instead we need to sign a good mid-20s middle of the road forward from another club to be a long term prospect, not players like George Rose who announce in the pre-season that he couldn’t handle having Craig Bellamy as a coach.
Melbourne fans don’t realise we have made the final six for 10 of the past 11 seasons since 2003 (exluding the obvious in 2010):
2003 (Lost Semi vs Canterbury)
2004 (Lost Semi vs Canterbury)
2005 (Lost Semi vs North Queensland)
2006 (Lost Grand Final vs Brisbane)
2007 (Premiers* vs Manly)
2008 (Lost Grand Final vs Manly)
2009 (Premiers* vs Parramatta)
2011 (Lost Prelim vs Warriors)
2012 (Premiers vs Canterbury)
2013 (Lost Semi vs Newcastle)
*Some say we were stripped of these, however we all know who really won them
People don’t realise how good we’ve had it over the last decade and they should maybe come to terms with Melbourne being a mediocre side for the next few years while we slowly build to becoming a force again.
. Anyway getting to the point, I seriously think the current squad is on par with Muppet's 2002 squad. If people say we aren’t in a rebuilding phase they are kidding themselves. Half the problem was that after 2010, the club pretty much wanted to win a quick premiership to stick it up the NRL and all the critics without any thought about building to the future. Here are the problems:Ageing Big 3 - We locked the Big 3 away on long term contracts, taking up the majority of the salary cap to prevent any other club from getting their hands on them instead of bringing up youth through the under 20s system (maybe keeping only Cam would have been sufficient, who knows??). At the moment, I can see Billy retiring at the end of 2015 when his contract expires and maybe the same for Coops at the end of 2016 , so we may as well start building towards replacing them soon.
Outside Backs - The problem is that we recruit too many forwards instead of durable solid outside backs and that is where the main issue is. It astounds me that Travis Robinson hasn’t even played a game yet this year yet Sisa Waqa is playing busted and is horribly out of form, Mahe Fonua is playing in the wrong position (should be coming off the bench) and Young Tonumaipea is not scoring enough tries for a winger. Matt Duffie and Justin O’Neill are way too injury prone and have become a liability. The only guy to steer the ship in the outside backs is Will Chambers. Kurt Mann also looks like a promising long term aspect aswell.
Five-Eighth - We have not had a quality five-eighth over the last few years and really have never had a specialist one since Scott Hill (Inglis was not a five-eighth, Finch took a back seat to Cronk, Widdop never flourished here unlike how he is at St. George and Hampton shows signs of promise but probably wasn’t developed properly as a playmaker). A lot of people have all pretty much given up on Hampton so it might be up to getting veterans such as Ben Roberts or Blake Green to fill the spot for a couple of years or so.
Forwards – Our forward pack has never been big, and constantly over the years we have been recruiting rejects and has-beens from other clubs and while some of them were good at the time, they are not long term prospects. Apart from clubman Bryan Norrie who will stay loyal to the Storm and probably play out his career here, Troy Thompson, Jaiman Lowe, Adam Woolnough and Jason Ryles are all gone. We’ve got a core group of good forwards such as Ryan Hinchcliffe, Jesse & Kenny Bromwich, Kevin Proctor and Tohu Harris, but it isn’t enough. Instead we need to sign a good mid-20s middle of the road forward from another club to be a long term prospect, not players like George Rose who announce in the pre-season that he couldn’t handle having Craig Bellamy as a coach.
Melbourne fans don’t realise we have made the final six for 10 of the past 11 seasons since 2003 (exluding the obvious in 2010):
2003 (Lost Semi vs Canterbury)
2004 (Lost Semi vs Canterbury)
2005 (Lost Semi vs North Queensland)
2006 (Lost Grand Final vs Brisbane)
2007 (Premiers* vs Manly)
2008 (Lost Grand Final vs Manly)
2009 (Premiers* vs Parramatta)
2011 (Lost Prelim vs Warriors)
2012 (Premiers vs Canterbury)
2013 (Lost Semi vs Newcastle)
*Some say we were stripped of these, however we all know who really won them
People don’t realise how good we’ve had it over the last decade and they should maybe come to terms with Melbourne being a mediocre side for the next few years while we slowly build to becoming a force again.
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Insomniac
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Whilst I agree with a lot of that mattstormy, I don't agree that re-signing/locking away "the big 3" instead of having a youth policy was a mistake - Billy STILL produces big time for us, although his bomb-taking abilities have dropped significantly in reason seasons (pun intended!). Cooper is STILL the best #7 running around (despite what those north of VIC might say), and we don't even need to mention how important Cam is for us. The difference this year though is we seem to have lost the "every player knows his role and does his job" thing - there have been too many passengers this year.
I agree 100% with your assessment of the outside backs - in the past I think we have excelled in this area and been weak in the forwards, but this has somewhat turned around. Injuries to the outside backs have killed the continuity, consistency and ultimately the form of our players in this area, and it's no real surprise that this is where we've been found out in defense this year.
We still need a decent forward or two, but I love the look of our pack with the Bromwich brothers, McLean, Proctor & Harris - I would love to have seen more from Moors, Glasby, and Garbutt, and Hoffy at his best will be missed next year. Norrie and Weston have been mostly disappointing, and the Rose experiment was a complete FAIL from the start in my opinion.
The potentially exciting Hampton/Walker battle for 5/8 turned out to be a fizzer, with Roberts surprisingly showing the most promise in the halves for us (in my opinion). Moving forward in 2014 I would like to see how far we could go with a Cronk/Roberts combination (2nd tier salary cap permitting).
Honestly though, regardless of our injury concerns this year our defense has been appalling for the most part. This is all about attitude and mental toughness in my opinion, and mentally we just haven't been switched on for most of the year. Bellamy should probably take some of the blame for questionable selection choices and an obvious inability to adapt to the rule changes like a lot of other teams have done, but hanging back in defense or not wrapping up the ball carrier or simply dropping off tackles has been a real concern for us, and there hasn't really been any improvement in this area all year.
As I mentioned earlier in the year, Corvo's departure (and maybe some of the rule changes) may have played a big part in our defensive downfall this year, but I'm still hoping that Bellamy can conjure up something (anything!) to bring us out of this and have us all switched on mentally for the run in to the finals.
I agree 100% with your assessment of the outside backs - in the past I think we have excelled in this area and been weak in the forwards, but this has somewhat turned around. Injuries to the outside backs have killed the continuity, consistency and ultimately the form of our players in this area, and it's no real surprise that this is where we've been found out in defense this year.
We still need a decent forward or two, but I love the look of our pack with the Bromwich brothers, McLean, Proctor & Harris - I would love to have seen more from Moors, Glasby, and Garbutt, and Hoffy at his best will be missed next year. Norrie and Weston have been mostly disappointing, and the Rose experiment was a complete FAIL from the start in my opinion.
The potentially exciting Hampton/Walker battle for 5/8 turned out to be a fizzer, with Roberts surprisingly showing the most promise in the halves for us (in my opinion). Moving forward in 2014 I would like to see how far we could go with a Cronk/Roberts combination (2nd tier salary cap permitting).
Honestly though, regardless of our injury concerns this year our defense has been appalling for the most part. This is all about attitude and mental toughness in my opinion, and mentally we just haven't been switched on for most of the year. Bellamy should probably take some of the blame for questionable selection choices and an obvious inability to adapt to the rule changes like a lot of other teams have done, but hanging back in defense or not wrapping up the ball carrier or simply dropping off tackles has been a real concern for us, and there hasn't really been any improvement in this area all year.
As I mentioned earlier in the year, Corvo's departure (and maybe some of the rule changes) may have played a big part in our defensive downfall this year, but I'm still hoping that Bellamy can conjure up something (anything!) to bring us out of this and have us all switched on mentally for the run in to the finals.