Are Melbourne finished?

[mave]

Slater has lost too much pace.

A couple of years ago he would have scored twice last night.
Definately would have found the line instead of coming up just short.

 

[POPEYE]

The reason Melbourne are struggling is because more teams are playing their type of footy. Intensity has always been what's separated Melbourne and Manly from the rest . . . reciprocated intensity is what will bring them undone

 

[kia ora storm]

Storm wont make the 8 IMO...the new speed in the ruck is killing them and having watched them since inception they play a structured game that does not work any more as the fast plays require a bit of free flow play including offloads and angle running which they don't have.

Bellamy has not recruited a forward pack one bit and the likes of Norrie and Hinchcliffe are not NRL standard. IMO they should let Slater go at the end of this year and get some hard running forwards into the squad to give the likes of Cronk and Hampton a platform to attack with.

 

[POPEYE]

Storm wont make the 8 IMO...the new speed in the ruck is killing them and having watched them since inception they play a structured game that does not work any more as the fast plays require a bit of free flow play including offloads and angle running which they don't have.

Bellamy has not recruited a forward pack one bit and the likes of Norrie and Hinchcliffe are not NRL standard. IMO they should let Slater go at the end of this year and get some hard running forwards into the squad to give the likes of Cronk and Hampton a platform to attack with.

Melbourne need to get their centres back up to scratch and keep them on the paddock, offloads were good enough against the Warriors and the forwards coming through are promising enough to hold back on poaching . . . knee jerking will do sfa

 

[Panther_Daz]

They won't make the 8. Haven't banked enough points before the rep period.

Their wins have come against Manly(Golden point) and last minute wins against the Panthers and Dragons where they were outplayed on both occasions.

 

[Tayjack]

In hindsight they should have released Slater and kept Inglis.

Geez u know what ur talking about

 

[BunniesMan]

The big 3 turn 31 this year. Billy Slater is seriously past his best.

Traditionally they dominate this part of the year and can handle some mid season lull. But this year they're average now and could be below .500 by the time Origin 3 rolls around.

Their premiership window is close and I think like the Cowboys they'll regret the long term big money extensions they've given to 30 somethings.

 

[stormbati]

Not sure what to think but it's kinda like seeing a great heavyweight boxer fighting that one fight too many.

 

[ek999]

They won't make the 8. Haven't banked enough points before the rep period.

Their wins have come against Manly(Golden point) and last minute wins against the Panthers and Dragons where they were outplayed on both occasions.

My thoughts exactly

 

[BunniesMan]

In hindsight they should have released Slater and kept Inglis.

It would have been a more balanced squad at the top end in terms of age.

They were strictly in win now mode. Good for the first 2 years, bad for the next 5.

 

[BunniesMan]

Not sure what to think but it's kinda like seeing a great heavyweight boxer fighting that one fight too many.

The issue is the transition. And I struggle to see anything but a long and painful one with about 2 million bucks committed to 3 blokes into their mid 30s.

 

[Spanner in the works]

I wouldn't write them off until the wnd of next season. I don't think they adapted well to this season's rule changes, their 5/8 is only very raw, and I think they will be a much better team this time next year.

 

[BunniesMan]

Next year the big 3 will be turning 32.

That's the problem with having your 3 best players at the exact same age. They'll be great together, but the drop off the cliff will be sudden and irreversible.

 

[adamkungl]

BM called it some time ago if i recall.

 

[Valheru]

Hard to say if they will recover to make the 8 this year or not. Slater is well past his best, Smith is just hanging in there, Cronk is still ok.

One thing is for sure, no team is scared to play them anymore.

 

[Canard]

NZ always play well in this match.

One of the best club games in our code, NZ v Storm in Melbourne.

 

[stormbati]

BM called it some time ago if i recall.

He's called it every year for the past few years. As have many more on here.

 

[Iafeta]

This isn't that unusual... we beat them last time we played them as well

 

[GONZO72]

Said it last year, Melbourne are an average team outside of their 3 superstars. They have one just one premiership since 2000. They deserved to lose their claytons titles, and for all their greatness, smith cronk and slater will end their careers with only one premiership

 

[Pistol_Pete]

They should try and sign cooper's brother Johnny.

Bellyache should ring up his old mentor supercoach shines and see if he can work some magic with the cronk brothers