Has the Bubble burst in Melbourne?

[Noa]

Aside from the Raiders loss form hasnt been too bad, Cowboys and Dogs are good teams after all, and did beat Manly.

Truth is though we we're never as good as most made us out to be earlier in the year, alot of those scorelines we're very flattering and our weakness is the same this year as last, we get too easily rolled in the forwards.

We've had no good young ones step into first grade apart from Proctor and Bromwich the past few year and there both struggling. And bellamy goe's and wastes money on Hoffman who adds nothing.

 

[kia ora storm]

Aside from the Raiders loss form hasnt been too bad, Cowboys and Dogs are good teams after all, and did beat Manly.

Truth is though we we're never as good as most made us out to be earlier in the year, alot of those scorelines we're very flattering and our weakness is the same this year as last, we get too easily rolled in the forwards.

We've had no good young ones step into first grade apart from Proctor and Bromwich the past few year and there both struggling. And bellamy goe's and wastes money on Hoffman who adds nothing.

The concern I have is that if Bellamy does not give these young guys a go they will simply go elsewhere and get regular first team games at another club...the old philosophy that you need experience over youth is true but when you have the likes of Jaiman Lowe being selected over Kenny Bromwich or Tohu Harris then this gives me no faith in the selection policy. Harris has been injured but now deserves a shot IMO.

Look at Luke Kelly...got no opportunity yet Bellamy played Kostjasyn who is not NRL standard and Kelly left and is prospering at the Eels in difficult circumstances.

 

[I Bleed Maroon]

Bump for relevance? Losing to Parra to make it 4 straight. It doesn't get any worse then that for the Storm since 2002.

 

[kia ora storm]

Bump for relevance? Losing to Parra to make it 4 straight. It doesn't get any worse then that for the Storm since 2002.

May as well just cut and paste the opinion I posted last week...

Frustrating to say the least...

 

[blacklock]

i think melbournes slump is overstated. theyre playing relatively well but their attack has become predictable. mainly because its running at half speed. so defense lines can read it more obviously when players are rushing around the back.

billy slater was crucial in that regard...he added that pace to the play which catches defense lines and breaks them.

once he returns....they will start making breaks again. for now theyre carrying out all their plays but in slow motion. if you notice...when they were on parramattas line, they never really punctured the defensive line. there was a lot of side to side movement without drawing in the defense.

 

[Spot On]

i think melbournes slump is overstated. theyre playing relatively well but their attack has become predictable. mainly because its running at half speed. so defense lines can read it more obviously when players are rushing around the back.

billy slater was crucial in that regard...he added that pace to the play which catches defense lines and breaks them.

once he returns....they will start making breaks again. for now theyre carrying out all their plays but in slow motion. if you notice...when they were on parramattas line, they never really punctured the defensive line. there was a lot of side to side movement without drawing in the defense.

100& right. Also Cronk has been very, very ordinary without Slater.

 

[Light Reflections]

One of their halves is playing fullback.

They'll be better when Billy comes back, even so, Dogs will be minor premiers.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Its a carbon copy of what happened to Saints this time last year.

 

[Lowdown]

I'm not sure what is worse: that we've lost 4 in a row; that we've lost 6 from last 8; or we lost to an Eels team that were pretty poor. We dominated possession, completion rates, errors, penalties, insert next stat here. But we've got nothing.

Billy Slater is not the solution. He will almost certainly help but a lot of the players last night are down on confidence. Cronks run of poor form is concerning as is our general lack of mongrel and aggression.

 

[DC_fan]

While I don't believe the Storm will miss the playoffs their is a chance they could miss the top four.

If you finish outside the top four I don't like your chances of making the grand final.

 

[thorson1987]

Its a carbon copy of what happened to Saints this time last year.

This is exactly what I thought last night.

Friday night is going to be interesting

 

[Phil McGrawhan]

There is 6 weeks left before the finals.
I would not be too worried if i was a Storm fan.Alot can change in that time.
I would rather a form slump now than closer to the finals.

 

[stormbati]

Not worried at all. Storm were just as bad in late 09 and only needed a couple games to hit top form.
One injury though and it's lights-out

 

[Spanner in the works]

Premiership's aren't won in July.

 

[LESStar58]

This nonsense about missing Slater does not wash anymore.

Sick of these pea hearted efforts. It's almost as if they go in with an entitlement to win.

 

[Noa]

Not worried at all. Storm were just as bad in late 09 and only needed a couple games to hit top form.
One injury though and it's lights-out

This team is not in the same class as that one. We'll get back to some good form but I honestly think we'll be doing well to make the 2nd last week, just dont like our forwards.

 

[The.X.Factor9]

lol Bellamy is a smart SOB, he planned this ... this is all part of their major plan. Lose a couple of games on the trot, let another team take top spot and fall off the radar.

Whilst everyone is in a lowered sense of security they will pounce and make their run.

Bellamy knows what he's doing.

Storm 2012.

 

[kia ora storm]

When was the last time Bellamy played a young player or debuted a young player ??.

Some of the U20's or NSW comp players need a shot to give the likes of Quinn, Proctor and Bromwich a wake up call.

Slater is not the magic wand IMO...half of the current squad are not gutsing it out and playing to their ability and that is the answer...plain and simple.

Kostjasyn has also struggled in the halves and this has been a big factor in their performances.

 

[Ulysseus]

I think Saints can play them into form next week.

Thank us later.

 

[Sea_Eagles_Rock]

While I don't believe the Storm will miss the playoffs their is a chance they could miss the top four.

If you finish outside the top four I don't like your chances of making the grand final.

I keep hearing this... I'm not so sure though. Being safe week 1 could prove to be a killer for intensity. I think it could cost some teams a spot when they are forced to face an opponent who is primed and already won through a 'must win' game.

The thing about the old system was you were only safe as team 1 or 2. And I don't think this record is that impressive...
99 Top 2 Cronulla / Parra - both won first match, out in 2nd match
00 Top 2 Roosters/Broncos - GF in the end... but Roosters lost first up
01 Top 2 Parra / Bulldogs - Parra lose the GF, Dogs out straight sets
02 Top 2 Warriors/Knights - Knights out straight sets, Warriors lose GF
03 Top 2 Penrith / Roosters - GF...
04 Top 2 Roosters / Dogs - GF...
05 Top 2 Parra/Dragons - Both out Preliminary final
06 Top 2 Dogs/Storm - Dogs lose prelim, Storm lose GF
07 Top 2 Storm/Manly - GF...
08 Top 2 Storm/Manly - GF...
09 Top 2 Dragons/Dogs - Dragons straight sets, Dogs prelim
10 Top 2 Dragons/Panthers - Panthers straight sets, Dragons GF winner
11 Top 2 Storm/Manly - Storm Prelim, Manly GF winner

5 times GF is the top 2 in 12 seasons. 7 premiership winners from top 2. Only twice out of 7 seasons ('10,'11) has the GF been won by a top 2 team against an opponent outside the top 2.