Has the Bubble burst in Melbourne?

[Danny-Boy]

we got storm next week at Parra. Best time to pounce on them, but also a good time to have Storm run into form haha

We have a good record against Melbourne we always tend to step up when we play them

Joke post?

 

[chrisD]

Sandow proves Parra and Kearney are geniused. Parra and Penrith are the two teams with the worst rosters due to shithouse cap management, coincidentally both sit on the bottom of the ladder.

 

[mongoose]

bellamy has no game plans


but seriously it looks like a repeat of last year. Too much of their cap is taken up by 3 players IMO and they are sorely missing talent in other areas. They also don't have the ability to play any ad lib or off the cuff style football when their systems get shut down. They are gone if they have to face Bulldogs, Manly or Warriors in the finals. Even Souths, Brisbane, Cowboys and Sharks will be confident in beating them.

 

[joshie]

Wow people are over reacting. We are just coming out of origin and if people actually watched tonight, we still very nearly won even playing like crap. Juz dropped the ball over the line, which surely would have seen us win. The back 3 tonight really didn't just bring it back like Billy does. Slater catches it on his 20, sprints back and gets tackled 45 out. Duffie/Widdop catch the ball on their 20, they dance to about the 30-35 mark. That is a big difference. If they actually realized that then they would go back on the front foot. We will win the title, and we will do it in style.

 

[stormbati]

This post is just so funny!!!!!

 

[hineyrulz]

Don't worry Storm fans no one can play a team back into form like Parra.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

We will win the title, and we will do it in style.

That's bunniesmanesque.

 

[Grapple]

Not without junor development and nurturing it as a sport in schools it won't.

Have you ever visited an AFL state?

Yeah, I lived in Melbourne for 3.5 years. Have you? NRL will be fine there. I know plenty of AFL fans that have come around to rugby league in Melbourne and shockingly like BOTH codes. Your argument is a little outdated, son.

 

[coolumsharkie]

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.

I was going to post the same thing last week, they look spent atm.

I doubt they will make the GF, I'm thinking Souths Bulldogs are the teams to beat now.

 

[beefstew]

No Slater and no Smith make Melbourne something something....

 

[Loudstrat]

Melbourne are a semi finals side. They need the salary cap influence to add players like Inglis and Blair to make them premiers.

Dogs v Manly GF is the most likely scenario.

 

[beave]

Don't under estimate NZ or the Broncos.

 

[Inglis#3]

Chambers will be back for the Penrith game, apparently.
We';ll be a completely different side with Slater back, it enables Widdop to go to five-eight which takes some of the pressure off Cronk, Cronk's been fairly average at 7 since Widdop moved to the custodian role.

 

[Pig Mouth]

 

[bottle]

^ Yes, well said Pig Mouth. One of your most intelligent posts.

The bubble can't have burst surely. They can't seriously be stopped can they?

Well, at least according to this thread, which strangely hasn't been bumped for some time now -

http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/s...&highlight=can+melbourne+seriously+be+stopped

 

[Billythekid]

Melbourne are a semi finals side. They need the salary cap influence to add players like Inglis and Blair to make them premiers.

Dogs v Manly GF is the most likely scenario.

:? Blair was terrible for us for most of his career (much like he is for the tigers now). The fact is it's bloody hard to win a premiership. We have the team to do it just like a few others do but that doesn't mean we will actually win.

I personally don't think we will win it this year but we are a chance and i'm surprised how confident opposition fans have become after just a few losses (we are still on top of the ladder).

 

[kia ora storm]

There are some valid points in this thread.

My concern as a Storm fan is that there is no depth in general in the club and the young kids are not being given the chance to prove themselves.

Firstly; it is obvious that outside of Widdop the halves depth is minimal. Maurice Blair and Kostjasyn are very average and Cronk cannot do it all himself.

The backline is looking directionless outside of Cronk. The absence of Neilsen and Chambers have impacted the team badly. Sisa Waqa is not up to NRL standard and Anthony Quinn should have been dropped many games ago. Quinn is old and slow and cannot turn and chase and opposition are targetting him a lot.

The forwards have no game breakers. Hoffman started strongly and has gone off in form and Manu is not being used effectively. It is all one dimensional with Manu - stand one off the ruck and hit the line. That tactic is not working any more.

Jaiman Lowe and Brian Norrie are journeyman at best.

So here's my two cents...the big three are commanding so much of the cap that we cannot buy anyone of any ability to give depth to the forwards and outside backs. All Bellamy has recruited in the last few years if journeyman and nothing more.

It is getting to the stage where the club is going to have to consider two options:

Playing the younger guys - Tohu Harris, Mahe Fonua, Kenny Bromwich need game time and an opportunity to add an X factor to the team.

The second one is a bit more radical - is Bellamy the right person for the job long term ?. Do we look for a coach who is prepared to take some risks and mix the game plan up a bit.

Storm will still be in the finals and will give it a good go but they need to strong some wins together to have any chance of proving their premiership credentials.

 

[DC_fan]

There are some valid points in this thread.

My concern as a Storm fan is that there is no depth in general in the club and the young kids are not being given the chance to prove themselves.

Firstly; it is obvious that outside of Widdop the halves depth is minimal. Maurice Blair and Kostjasyn are very average and Cronk cannot do it all himself.

The backline is looking directionless outside of Cronk. The absence of Neilsen and Chambers have impacted the team badly. Sisa Waqa is not up to NRL standard and Anthony Quinn should have been dropped many games ago. Quinn is old and slow and cannot turn and chase and opposition are targetting him a lot.

The forwards have no game breakers. Hoffman started strongly and has gone off in form and Manu is not being used effectively. It is all one dimensional with Manu - stand one off the ruck and hit the line. That tactic is not working any more.

Jaiman Lowe and Brian Norrie are journeyman at best.

So here's my two cents...the big three are commanding so much of the cap that we cannot buy anyone of any ability to give depth to the forwards and outside backs. All Bellamy has recruited in the last few years if journeyman and nothing more.

It is getting to the stage where the club is going to have to consider two options:

Playing the younger guys - Tohu Harris, Mahe Fonua, Kenny Bromwich need game time and an opportunity to add an X factor to the team.

The second one is a bit more radical - is Bellamy the right person for the job long term ?. Do we look for a coach who is prepared to take some risks and mix the game plan up a bit.

Storm will still be in the finals and will give it a good go but they need to strong some wins together to have any chance of proving their premiership credentials.

Well said.

Your team hasn't been the same since "The Great One" was injured. But even when Billy Slater returns your team will need more then just him.

Their are a few players in your team that look better then what they really are. They really do need the Triplets to fire.

 

[kia ora storm]

Well said.

Your team hasn't been the same since "The Great One" was injured. But even when Billy Slater returns your team will need more then just him.

Their are a few players in your team that look better then what they really are. They really do need the Triplets to fire.

Cheers mate...seriously I sit there and watch the likes of the Titans, Dogs and Cowboys who have depth across the park and wonder how we can become so reliant on the big three to win games.

 

[bottle]

So here's my two cents...the big three are commanding so much of the cap that we cannot buy anyone of any ability to give depth to the forwards and outside backs. All Bellamy has recruited in the last few years if journeyman and nothing more.

Wow, excellent post kia ora. Refreshing to see a Storm fan that really gets it. Sticks it to the whole "money doesn't make 'em play better" mob. It's true of course, but it does buy you depth, which is what your mob risks by loading so much on three very, very important individuals. Well said.