RIP Melbourne Storm 2003-13

[simostorm]

Storm really have already rebuilt their side. Cronk and slater were the only two players in storms side that played the 2008 GF. Cam was out that game.. This back line and young forward pack will be around for a while. Its only really the big 3 and Hoffman who are old storm players. Manly have 8 players still from the 2008 gf. How they've been able to retain 8 guys while adding DCE and foran is quite amazing.

 

[kia ora storm]

O'Neill has to go IMO...contributes nothing and is not willing to carry the ball out like Waqa and Chambers do.

 

[Dutchy]

Storm really have already rebuilt their side. Cronk and slater were the only two players in storms side that played the 2008 GF. Cam was out that game.. This back line and young forward pack will be around for a while. Its only really the big 3 and Hoffman who are old storm players. Manly have 8 players still from the 2008 gf. How they've been able to retain 8 guys while adding DCE and foran is quite amazing.

Cheapos with talent and potential.

Horo Lawrence Hiku Buhrer Symonds etc

 

[BunniesMan]

I disagree. Slater's defence at the back is as good as its ever been, and probably his biggest strength. He still makes plenty of run metres per game. Storm's attacking structure as a whole has been poor last couple of months. At times, Slater's individual efforts have been the only thing that's kept them in the game. He's not as fast as he once was, but he's still fast enough.

Start of the season, They looked unbeatable.. after Origin they looked tired. Its simply the effect of Origin that's hurt them.
They'll bounce back and be better next season then what they were this season.

Problem is they'll have origin again next year. And their bodies will be a year older and will need to go 3 wins further than this year.

If the Storm were their first priority they'd quit Origin and focus on getting one more premeirship. But I feel they'll keep going with origin until it's too late.

Storm really have already rebuilt their side. Cronk and slater were the only two players in storms side that played the 2008 GF. Cam was out that game.. This back line and young forward pack will be around for a while. Its only really the big 3 and Hoffman who are old storm players. Manly have 8 players still from the 2008 gf. How they've been able to retain 8 guys while adding DCE and foran is quite amazing.

And the rest of the comp will keep picking off the cream of what they develop like what happened with Widdop because the aging big 3 take up so much of the cap.

 

[Noa]

Storm really have already rebuilt their side. Cronk and slater were the only two players in storms side that played the 2008 GF. Cam was out that game.. This back line and young forward pack will be around for a while. Its only really the big 3 and Hoffman who are old storm players. Manly have 8 players still from the 2008 gf. How they've been able to retain 8 guys while adding DCE and foran is quite amazing.

They did and they won while the 1,7 & 9 were still Close to there best. That isn't the case now so we can't have a pack that apart from a couple of players is low on impact e.g. you cant run with hinchy and Hoffman starting as far as I'm concerned.

 

[HowHigh]

Melbourne will probably win another Premiership, probably in 2015

Probably

 

[mongoose]

I know he's been injured for much of the season but I don't understand the hype around Widdop, I think he's ordinary. Storm would have done better with Finch last night. Oh well Dragons have got him next year.

 

[DURRRHURRR]

I hate to say it, but as a Storm fan I think it is time to let Slater go. Let some desperate team pay big cash for him and free up some salary cap. I think he is still the best fullback in the game but really he is in decline, slower, more inconsistant over the course of the season and his attempts at playmaking (maybe auditioning for a 5/8 role) have been terrible. Either that or just rest him for half of the season and just play the big games while letting some young guys have a shot at fullback. This year has just been too long for him, recovering from a shoulder injury then world club challenge, 26 week season with origin and a world cup to come.


As for the rest of the team I would have replace O'Niell with Fonua, despite all his stupid errors he hits the ball up hard and often gets a fast play the ball this can really get a you rolling early in a set. Also the forward pack has no go forward early in the game, I actually think George Rose will be a massive help next season. Widdop was really average during the finals just too long out of football to be thrown into a tough finals game, Hampton shows potential and that QLD cup guy is meant to be a gun so I think 5/8 is not a worry for next season.

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

Melbourne Storm will be back bigger and stronger next year. It is quite likely that they will face this year's Grand Final winners, Sydney Roosters, in the 2014 Grand Final.

Unfortunately for Melbourne, as for the rest of the NRL, Sydney Roosters will be stronger next year in the forwards if SBW stays, because they have acquired a gun French prop named Remy Casty, who will join Jared Whaerea-Hargreaves and Sam Moa, plus Luke' O' Donnell, to form an awesome front row for the 2013 champions.

 

[WaznTheGreat]

Hayne,Hoppa and Sandow the new big 3,we got dis

 

[WaznTheGreat]

Meh scratch that,looks like Sandow might go to Salford

Hayne,Hoppa,Peats the new big 3

 

[RedVee]

Eh.. You cant win it every year.. Storms wheels fell off after Origin, they have struggled for a couple of months. Not surprised to see them out in straight sets.
Good overall season. I enjoyed it. I'm not let down by the Storm.

As for age of the Big 3.. They are fine.. another few good years in them.

Storm this year, similar to Saints in 2011 - just ran out of legs.
It is the WCC bogey, I think no club has won two in a row since the return of the WCC.

 

[kia ora storm]

I hate to say it, but as a Storm fan I think it is time to let Slater go. Let some desperate team pay big cash for him and free up some salary cap. I think he is still the best fullback in the game but really he is in decline, slower, more inconsistant over the course of the season and his attempts at playmaking (maybe auditioning for a 5/8 role) have been terrible. Either that or just rest him for half of the season and just play the big games while letting some young guys have a shot at fullback. This year has just been too long for him, recovering from a shoulder injury then world club challenge, 26 week season with origin and a world cup to come.


As for the rest of the team I would have replace O'Niell with Fonua, despite all his stupid errors he hits the ball up hard and often gets a fast play the ball this can really get a you rolling early in a set. Also the forward pack has no go forward early in the game, I actually think George Rose will be a massive help next season. Widdop was really average during the finals just too long out of football to be thrown into a tough finals game, Hampton shows potential and that QLD cup guy is meant to be a gun so I think 5/8 is not a worry for next season.

I actually agree...let one of the big three go now. Sounds stupid but will free up cap and allow us to build depth in the forwards which is what the club needs.

 

[LESStar58]

Show's over folks. They're a myth.

The big three have hit the big three-oh and boy does it show. They've dished up some very ordinary performances in the last half of the season.

Melbourne to miss the 8 next year.

"oh ye of little faith. Want a cookie?"

 

[Tom Shines]

George Rose.

PMSL.

 

[BunniesMan]

George Rose. Will Bellamy tolerate his bodyfat %?

How much do you have to eat to still carry a gut after all the calories burnt in training and in games.

I don't think Rose is professional enough for them, don't see it going well. But it just goes to show the caliber of player they are forced to sign because they didn't make the right decision when they chose to keep all 3 of the big 3 deep into their 30s on mega money.

 

[afinalsin666]

George rose is the shit. Like a sumo wrestler, his biggest asset is his size. Two of the manly tries on the weekend were off his runs. He will be awesome under Bellamy.

 

[BunniesMan]

Noone is saying he should be small. Obviously props need to be big. But when you are paid good money to be a professional athlete there is no excuse for that much fat. He should be the same weight he is now but all that fat should be muscle.

He could get so much more out of himself if he was somewhere close to peak fitness.

 

[afinalsin666]

He's got the muscle to move the bulk, so it's a-OK. Would be very hard to still be 130+ and still be solid muscle. Really though, it's impact vs stamina, and we've got a bunch of long minute players. Georgie fits perfectly as is.

 

[Ozzy]

George Rose. Will Bellamy tolerate his bodyfat %?

How much do you have to eat to still carry a gut after all the calories burnt in training and in games.

I don't think Rose is professional enough for them, don't see it going well. But it just goes to show the caliber of player they are forced to sign because they didn't make the right decision when they chose to keep all 3 of the big 3 deep into their 30s on mega money.

This is from the person who posted that SBW was past it at the beginning of the season. You're not a great judge of talent BM.