Has the Bubble burst in Melbourne?

[I Bleed Maroon]

3 straight losses at home, still missing Slater (I'm not sure what's going on with him, someone care to bring me up to speed?), beaten by the Cows who haven't won in Melbourne since 2001.

So, have Melbourne begun their pre-finals collapse? The Bulldogs could be number one on the ladder come next weekend.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Teams smell blood in the water.

Happened to Saints after Origin last year. The aura of invincibility slips and teams want to stick it to you. Belief, the greatest thing you can have, starts to slip.

Broncos fans know the feeling well.

I think they're on the edge. I don't think they can win the comp with their forwards.

 

[elbusto]

Their fall came later last year. If you are going to have a post Origin dip you want to have it right now. See how they are travelling in a fortnight.

 

[Trentosaurus]

The Storm just start the season playing their best footy. It takes everyone else a little while to step up but when they do it makes the Storm look very beatable.

The Raiders game I'll write off as an Origin hangover but the Sharks, Bulldogs and Cowboys proved that they can match it with Melbourne.

 

[BunniesMan]

Canterbury will be minor premiers. Melbourne could slide as far down as 3rd or 4th and not have a home final the first week.

I would not be surprised if they are out in straight sets.

They remind me of a Faberge egg. Pretty on the surface, but scratch the surface away and there's not much depth. They are 3 outstanding players surrounded by 14 ordinary players.

And those 3 outstanding players are getting very close to 30 all at the same time. Their ability to carry the team will diminish. Could be dark times for the Storm in about 2014.

 

[Grapple]

Origin always kills them, but they usually bounce back. This time they're missing Slater and it seems to be the spark they need. But they don't have it in the forwards, and teams are starting to figure them out... like Canberra did.

They won't win the comp. We will.

 

[Big Pete]

Just a rough patch. Have plenty of time to turn it on heading into the finals.

Billy will be a huge boost. If only because it allows Widdop to go back to five eigth.

 

[HowHigh]

I predicted they'd struggle around the Origin period (not a very hard prediction)

It's a pretty open comp at the moment..

 

[Óglaigh na hÉireann]

I give them until Slater retires and then they'll be struggling to avoid the spoon.

Let's see the NRL justify proping them up after that....

Rugby League in Victoria or any pro-AFL state = an excercise in futility.

 

[Grapple]

Great first post. :lol:

 

[Canard]

I give them until Slater retires and then they'll be struggling to avoid the spoon.

Let's see the NRL justify proping them up after that....

Rugby League in Victoria or any pro-AFL state = an excercise in futility.

Team's existence relies solely on ladder position?

 

[Mr Saab]

Team's existence relies solely on ladder position?

No, but it helps alot...esp for the storm

 

[Canard]

What so if they won a spoon or two the NRL should just can them??

f**k me there is some flogs on this forum.

 

[Light Reflections]

Just a rough patch. Have plenty of time to turn it on heading into the finals.

Billy will be a huge boost. If only because it allows Widdop to go back to five eigth.

I think that's pretty spot on.

Great to see the Cows get a win down there though.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Origin always kills them, but they usually bounce back. This time they're missing Slater and it seems to be the spark they need. But they don't have it in the forwards, and teams are starting to figure them out... like Canberra did.

They won't win the comp. We will.

Next year.

Manly.

 

[I Bleed Maroon]

What so if they won a spoon or two the NRL should just can them??

f**k me there is some flogs on this forum.

Consistent Wooden Spoons in a precarious market like Melbourne would spell disaster for the Storm. Surely you can figure this out.

 

[Mr Saab]

What so if they won a spoon or two the NRL should just can them??

f**k me there is some flogs on this forum.

Where did i say they should be kicked out? I just said that it helps them when they are winning. I would like to see how the fans and league reacted IF they put in Eels like results for a few seasons...esp in a Melb market.

 

[BunniesMan]

Irrelevant. They don't need crowds or members. They are owned by News scum. A billion dollar organisation.

Say hypothetically their big 3 decline and they win the wooden spoon in 2014/2015. They might average 7k crowds then. It matters little financially.

 

[Mr Saab]

And if they have money stopped being put in their back pockets by Rupert...what then

 

[BunniesMan]

News won't stop doing that because it adds value to their tv rights.

If the rights are ever taken off News, then it might be the end of the Storm.