But look at the form of the Storm around that time. We had losses to Warriors at home, Raiders at home, and scraped through some ordinary results against other teams (Broncos included).
Since the loss to the Raiders, its a new team with some settled combinations. We got rid of Champion and replaced him with 'The Rock' Maurice Blair. Sisa Waqa has also been a revelation on the wing (but he is out).
Duffy is back in form, and we've now got the Origin distraction behind us (as do the Broncos).
The Storm were well beneath their best v the Broncos at Suncorp and lets not forget a few of them were coming right off a fierce Test hangover.
There are no excuses now for either team. Its a true test of both teams to see who will rightfully emerge as the favourites for the comp alongside the Dragons.
No need to get all defensive, I just said it was an indicator and the Storm haven't produced anything since that match to say they're a completely different side.
But just to poke holes at your post - both Blair and Waqa played against the Broncos. Cronk barely played in the Test match and he was in fine form that night.
On the other hand, the Broncos were without the players I listed as well as Hoffman, Gillett and McGuire and the Storm were able to exploit that. In fact, Yow Yeh had to play centre just to make things work.
Sure the Storm were affected as well and they'll welcome back Duffie and Manu and they'll be better prepared but they weren't as affected as the Broncos were.
And results may not have been kind in the past, but the past is something Melbourne fans won't want to remember because it's redundant.
I believe it'll be a good game and a great test of where both teams are at.
