Melbourne are gonski. It's now a two horse race.

[BunniesMan]

Last year they started struggling from 1st. This year they've started struggling from 3rd. Lot harder to make up ground now.

IMO it's almost impossible to win the comp from outside the top 4 in this format. They could be out of the 4 in the next 2 weeks.

 

[dogslife]

Well Bunniesman has written them off.

Kudos Melbourne on another premiership

 

[BuffaloRules]

Anyone want to give the Warriors any hope?

They have gone alright against the "top 4" over the last 2 months.

 

[Inglis#3]

Anyone want to give the Warriors any hope?

They have gone alright against the "top 4" over the last 2 months.

Many could argue that they're peaking too early.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Last year they started struggling from 1st. This year they've started struggling from 3rd. Lot harder to make up ground now.

.

Started struggling last year?

Come the finals last year, they flogged your lot first up, flogged Manly then had a reasonably comfortable win in the final.

 

[big hit!]

Anyone want to give the Warriors any hope?

They have gone alright against the "top 4" over the last 2 months.

Warriors are playing fresh IMO as their S&C staff need to have them peaking. they've got no choice but to win games if they're going to be playing finals. they're a good team and finally gelling but I wouldn't go righting off the old firm or the consistent teams at this stage like the OP has.

i'd say teams like Souths Melbourne and Easts (ex SOO players) would be going through, or just about rapping up their final higher volume mesocycle of training in the lead up to finals and then tapering. the goal for these teams is to be peaking in Sept/Oct, not right now.

 

[Jason Maher]

Roflmfao@souffs fans.

 

[DIMEAST]

Over the last few weeks warriors have beaten manly, roosters, storm and lead souths up until the last 15 minutes. If we make the eight we could be a headache

 

[Red Bear]

Manly are just as much a chance as the Roosters and Souffs

You do remember the Storm lost 5 in a row this time last year and it didn't hurt them

Manly have struggled against the good sides though. Cant write off a side with their spine + backrow + lyon. Although I dont think Glenn Stewart is much of a threat these days. Just dont think they're quite as good as the others.

I thought Smith was all class today, whilst Cronk and Slater had their moments as well (although Slaters lastt wenty minutes was pretty poor). They're still a real threat, provided they stay top four (which they should).

 

[big hit!]

Over the last few weeks warriors have beaten manly, roosters, storm and lead souths up until the last 15 minutes. If we make the eight we could be a headache

I wouldn't read the Origin period as a bona fide form guide. Warriors are playing good footy, but it's a long season where S&C staff manipulate volume through out to ensure their team is peaking at the right times, and then others have the distractions of rep footy too.

MEL may have lost this one, and NZW are bogey side for them too, but I reckon head start and the adjustments in training that the Warriors have had to accommodate to get themselves in winning form right now will catch up with them come the post-season.

 

[BunniesMan]

Started struggling last year?

Come the finals last year, they flogged your lot first up, flogged Manly then had a reasonably comfortable win in the final.

I meant the 5 losses in a row. And yes they recovered but my point was it's easier to recover and you have less ground to make up when you stumble in 1st than when you stumble in 3rd.

Two more losses and they'll struggle to make the top 4. That was never an issue even with 5 losses in a row last year.

 

[DIMEAST]

All those sides were at full strength when we played them

 

[Noa]

The problem for the Storm in the forwards is that we have no one who is a real hard-merkin, especailly in the backrow. Whether running the balll or in defence, they're all a bit vanilla

 

[WaznTheGreat]

Storm players are not robots,they can't win every single game they contest

 

[t-ba]

All those sides were at full strength when we played them

:lol:.

No Foz or Brett Stewart :lol:.

I know SBW was out but please don't talk such unmitigated bullshit. That's half our spine...

 

[MKEB...]

The problem for the Storm in the forwards is that we have no one who is a real hard-merkin, especailly in the backrow. Whether running the balll or in defence, they're all a bit vanilla

Not quite understanding your "vanilla" terminology, but If that means that they are a no frills forward pack, then I agree.

 

[Michael Bishop]

I certainly wouldn't be writing Melbourne off. I'd be more confident of them beating Souths, Roosters and Manly come semi final time than vice versa.

 

[DIMEAST]

:lol:.

No Foz or Brett Stewart :lol:.

I know SBW was out but please don't talk such unmitigated bullshit. That's half our spine...

? Foran was playing. Snake was out but we lost Locke in the warmup. We even gave you one of our juniors to fill in at fullback and he was your best player on the day. Sbw?

 

[Noa]

Not quite understanding your "vanilla" terminology, but If that means that they are a no frills forward pack, then I agree.

Bunch of white honkeys....


Jokes, alot of hard workers, no-one who can bust the line apart form Bromwich, or bust ribs.

 

[t-ba]

? Foran was playing. Snake was out but we lost Locke in the warmup. We even gave you one of our juniors to fill in at fullback and he was your best player on the day. Sbw?

That was the first match...Injuries are to be expected and are no excuse for losing but you can hardly claim to beat full strength sides when they are missing some of their best