NRL News Reports
Storm Warning: The Future is Bright
It’s almost 10 years since the Melbourne Storm became part of the NRL competition, and today NRLnews.com has a look at an impressive resume built up by the young southern club.
With a spare parts team and plenty of guys looking for their chance, the Storm were expected to be cannon fodder in their first few NRL years. A bunch of no-names had the tough task of trying to get bums on seats, having little or no depth due to non-existent junior breeding grounds and to top it off they were nestled deep within the borders of the enemy code. How could an NRL team ever succeed?
Succeed? After only a year of competition the Storm took the NRL title and the club has never looked back since.
Through coaching changes, drug scandals, low crowds and calls for their relocation by those in rival NRL establishments – the Melbourne Storm has weathered it all, literally.
During their time in the NRL the Storm has produced a massive list of rugby league stars. Guys like: Scott Hill, Brett Kimmorley, Richard Swain, Matt Geyer, Matt Orford, Rodney Howe, Robbie Ross and todays supers stars: Billy Slater and of course Greg Inglis.
Imagine where this club would be with assistance and encouragement from the whole NRL community? Storm management surely has to be congratulated on continuing to produce quality football sides and ensuring the young NRL club lives on into the future.
So many times it has seemed like the Storm was doomed. First when their premiership winning coach left, life after Chris Andersen was going to see them drop to the bottom of the ladder – they simply moved on, unaffected. Then their star halfback Brett Kimmorley was to leave, the Storm simply grabbed Matt Orford from Sydney and turned him into a house hold name. Then Orford leaves the fold, what do they do? Well they just moulded a young bloke in Cooper Cronk into a top line halfback, a genuine match winner.
The Melbourne Storm have made the semi finals or gone close nearly every year of their existence. No wooden spoons or written off seasons.
Their recent form is nothing short of astounding, in 2006 the Storm side beat every team that was put in front of them and turned their Olympic Park into an absolute graveyard for visitors – the only blight on their record was a loss in the NRL grand final.
As we look forward and assess the future, the Storm looks like hanging around for a lot longer. They have a side choc full of champions, and these days their depth is envied NRL wide. Congratulations Melbourne Storm, i'm sure you're all laughing - and it should be at the expense of short sighted disbelievers.
Adam Sutcliffe - NRLnews.com
