2017 NRL Season Preview - Melbourne Storm

Melbourne Storm 2017 NRL Season Preview

2016 Review - The Storm were once again outstanding last season under Head Coach Craig Bellamy before falling heartbreakingly short in the Grand Final. Despite trailing 8-0 at halftime the Storm battled back to lead 12-8 before Andrew Fifita's late try shattered Melbourne's hearts. The Storm were brilliant in the regular season finishing with a deserved Minor Premiership after losing just 5 games out of 24. The highlight once again for the Storm was once again their outstanding defence as the side conceded just 12.65 points a game which was an unbelievable effort in of of consistency and resilience in defence.

The Storm conceded 20 points just 4 times in the whole season and were by far and away the best defensive unit in the NRL. The side was also the 4th best attacking unit and without Billy Slater, the likes of Cameron Munster really stepped up alongside Marika Koroibete and Sunisa Vunivalu, as the Storm backline carried a potency not seen in recent years. Veteran playmakers Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk were once again outstanding leading their side around the park. One area where the Storm struggled a little was early in games, as in 8 of their 12 home games they managed to concede the first try, despite winning 10 of these games. 

2017 Gains -  The Storm were very quiet in the player market over the off-season, with their only real signing of note being Josh Addo-Carr, the flying winger from the Wests Tigers. Having lost Marika Koroibete, it's clear the Storm want pace on their flanks and, whilst Addo Carr is quite raw, he would be up there as possibly the quickest winger in the game. Other than that, the Storm made a number of depth signings including Brandon Smith (Cowboys), Vincent Leuluai (Roosters), Jahrome Hughes (Cowboys) and Ryley Jacks (Sunshine Coast Falcons).

2017 Losses - The Storm have lost 3 key players that played a pretty big role in their outstanding 2016 campaign. Marika Koroibete (Rugby Union) has gone to the Melbourne Rebels. Not only was Koroibete an outstanding finisher, but he was also a great runner of the football coming out of his own end. With his wrecking ball technique, the Storm were able to start most sets on the front foot and able to get out of their own territory easily. Blake Green (Manly) did a very servicable job at 5/8 alongside Cooper Cronk. Green knew exactly his role and had a good short kicking game and was a solid defender. Kevin Proctor (Titans) was a leading back rower for several years for the Storm, however was offered bigger money to go to the Gold Coast. Other losses over the off-season for the Storm included Josh Kerr (Dragons), Ryan Morgan (St Helens), Blake Green (Sea Eagles), Matt White, Francis Tualau (Bulldogs), Ben Hampton (Cowboys), Richard Kennar (Bulldogs) and Kevin Proctor (Titans)

2017 Player to Watch - Billy Slater and Brodie Croft  - Billy Slater was once the best fullback in the world and arguably the best athlete in the country before injury wiped him out of almost all of the past two seasons. Slater has had serious shoulder problems and it must be a big question mark, at 33 years of age, as to whether he can return to full fitness and be the player he once was. What I don't doubt is Slater's work ethic and his drive and, after 2 years off, if he has some lucky with the shoulder, he will be fresh and could well get back to somewhere near his best. Slater had it all as a fullback - he was courageous, blindingly fast, smart, a good ball player and outstanding in defence and under the high ball. If he can play a large portion of this season, it's almost like a new signing for Melbourne and will offset the loss of Koroibete. Brodie Croft looks like a photo type young halfback that is learning all the ropes off Cooper Cronk. I was hugely impressed by hisonganistional skills, kicking game and talk he displayed in the Auckland nines. If you watch his mannerisms and some of his set moves they are very similar to Cronk. The Storm will do very well to keep this guys out of the clutches of other clubs in the next year or two. 

2017 Draw - (favourable)  The Storm have a very good draw, managing to secure 13 games against last season's bottom 8 sides. The Storm's runs to the finals looks smooth, with 3 home matches and an away trip to Newcastle in their last five matches. They will face some tricky games around Origin time with a three-week stretch which takes them from Wollongong to Brisbane to Perth. The Storm usually like to get out of the blocks and let teams play catch up, and I don't expect any different this year. 

2017 Forecast - Minor Premiers (18 wins) 

I have learnt over the years you can't go far wrong in backing this team. I will refrain from making a finals prediction but I think this team can win back to back Minor Premierships.  Many people often expect this team to slide, and they have lost a few players this year,  but I am expecting Slater to get back to his best and Munster to be a revelation at five eight. I just love their culture under Craig Bellamy, and they even have a potential super star half waiting in the wings in Brodie Croft if anything were to happen to Cooper Cronk. Croft has huge wraps on him, and Melbourne will do very well to keep him under wraps from other clubs. I expect Nelson Asofa-Solomona to really go to another level this year in the absence of Proctor, whilst Jesse Bromwich is a machine. Curtis Scott is a very, very talented young centre who missed all of last season through injury and I expect him to burst on to the scene this season. With the likes of Will Chambers and Tohu Harris, the Storm to me just look like a very well balanced and dangerous side once again in 2017, despite losing a few players.

If Slater, Scott, Croft and Co can really step up and add further grunt to this side with the football, they will always be a defensive powerhouse under Craig Bellamy. I think,  once again, they are a team that will jump out of the blocks and have other sides playing catch up. Expect last year's narrow defeat in the Grand Final to burn at this side, and I think they can challenge for a Premiership once again this season.