Are Melbourne finished?

[_Johnsy]

George Jennings is a bigger liability than Anthony Milford’s dinner bill.

Ahhhh but you've forgotten the Macca's vouchers.

 

[This Year?]

Am I the only one that thinks they will only get better? It's round 3 with two close away losses to two of the best and a win against another heavyweight.
A bit like the restart of last year's comp where everyone thought they were done after a couple of losses.

Of course they will get better. Once their best 17 is available and get more time together they'll hum along nicely.
Nobody remembers early season losses in September.

 

[Bazal]

Am I the only one that thinks they will only get better? It's round 3 with two close away losses to two of the best and a win against another heavyweight.
A bit like the restart of last year's comp where everyone thought they were done after a couple of losses.

Of course not they have a bunch of quality players to come back.

But I also can't remember, for eg, this current iteration of the Storm having such an obvious defensive weakness as they do on the right edge. And the left tbh, Olam is a headcase. Even mugs like Cheyse Blair managed to hold the shape Bellamy asked of him most of the time.

Are they done? No, definitely not. But it'll be interesting to see what happens now because for the first time in a long time they look like they have some genuine vulnerability. Do they finally slide, or do they rally and in two years we've forgotten George Jennings ever played for them

 

[Saxon]

O
Are they done? No, definitely not. But it'll be interesting to see what happens now because for the first time in a long time they look like they have some genuine vulnerability. Do they finally slide, or do they rally and in two years we've forgotten George Jennings ever played for them

Option B. George Who?
Don't forget, they have had very close losses that could have gone either way against the other two top 3 sides from last year. A couple of combinations improve and Jennings goes; Storm will be there when it matters.

 

[The_Frog]

They've always done well with budget backs - cheyse blair, brenko lee - etc. That Olam character is starting to become a real liability though.

The GF penalty try did him no favours. He got the choccies and the accolades that come with them despite planting the ball on the defender's leg.

 

[Someguy]

The GF penalty try did him no favours. He got the choccies and the accolades that come with them despite planting the ball on the defender's leg.

no doubt we have different premiers if that decision was correctly given no try.

 

[soc123_au]

no doubt we have different premiers if that decision was correctly given no try.

The decision was wrong, but it was squared up to an extent with the To'o try which was very iffy. Playing like arse for 50 minutes was more decisive.

 

[Saxon]

View attachment 46969

/thread

March Premiers.

 

[SBD82]

March Premiers.

After the last couple of seasons, I’ll take it.

 

[SBD82]

Oops. Wrong thread.

 

[Mark B]

Premiers again, I can’t see it. But they are not finished being a consistent top 5 team just yet. Munster is the key to their continued success. Other players such as the Magic Cheese or what ever they call him just don’t seem to have consistency for the week to week grind. Looks like a good bloke to have a beer with, but would disappear when it’s his shout.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

This can't possibly be a serious thread. They beat the Bunnies pretty convincingly in round 1, and the Bunnies can flat out play. Come September, Bellamy will have them firing and I'd say they're as close to favourites as anyone. Look, I'd love them to bomb out and come 13th but with their side, once they iron out the chinks in their three-quarter line, they'll be deadly - at the right time of the year like Bellamy always ensures they are.

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

A solid win against the Bunnies and two close losses, away, to quality teams in Parra and the Panthers is not a bad formline to build from. The ending to those losses could have easily turned out very differently, and the Storm could be 3-0. The reality is its 1-2, but doubt there's too much concern at this point.

 

[footy75]

Melbourne will be there at the end.

 

[Frailty]

Are they finished? No.

Where they will struggle are those tighter games or when they're trying to fight off momentum. Smith was a very calming influence on the field who would slow the game down to their pace and suck the life out of the opposition's momentum.

Munster is a very fast player - he wants everything quicker. Get a penalty? Better quickly kick for touch, etc.

It will be interesting to see the effect of Grant will have on the team.

 

[Sphagnum]

Option B. George Who?
Don't forget, they have had very close losses that could have gone either way against the other two top 3 sides from last year. A couple of combinations improve and Jennings goes; Storm will be there when it matters.

The things is, they win those games every time. To go under twice in a row is a sign that they aren’t the same team without smith controlling the game for them.

 

[SDM]

The good thing is they have lost a couple of tough games, the next step is losing a couple of games to fringe top 8 sides, then hopefully they keep picking up injuries and ultimately implode.

 

[flippikat]

The good thing is they have lost a couple of tough games, the next step is losing a couple of games to fringe top 8 sides, then hopefully they keep picking up injuries and ultimately implode.

In that regard, the ANZAC round game vs the Warriors will be a very good litmus test of where both clubs stand.

This current Warriors team looks to be a side on the rise, and they'll be looking to make a statement against a benchmark team - much like this weekend's game against the Roosters.

 

[hineyrulz]

They are on their last legs, the new rule interpretations and the fact the big 3 cheats are 30 and not what they were is hurting them. It's a great day for RL.

The prediction of a desperate bald man with NFI with what he is talking about, not much has changed.

 

[_snafu_]

I'm sure they'll invent some further tactics to stink the game up and make it become unwatchable.