Storm skipper Harry Grant says his side is “defensively not up to standard” after they slumped to a fourth-straight loss on the weekend, but he insists all hope is not lost after seeing Penrith recover from a horror start last year to almost win the title.

Melbourne has been the most feared team in the NRL for the past two decades but they were bullied at home by the Warriors on the weekend, with the visitors snapping a 17-game losing streak against them in the process.

A shocking run of injuries coupled with several key departures in the off-season has left the Storm exposed for the first time in years, with coach Craig Bellamy forced to play middles on an edge, while they lack strike out wide.

But it’s defensively where they’ve really struggled, with Melbourne conceding 158 points through the opening six rounds, including 116 in their past three games.

“There’s a level that we need to be performing to, and we’re certainly not there at the moment with application on the field,” Grant said.

“We’ve been preparing really well for games and there are answers in the team and in the coaching squad, but it’s up to us to put in practice for performances on the weekend.”

Club legend Billy Slater questioned their attitude after the Warriors loss, while Brad Fittler described their defence as “terrible” on the Sunday Footy Show.

Grant said all criticism of the team was fair leading into Friday’s showdown with the Raiders, but he wasn’t going to be driven by it after seeing people’s opinions of the Bulldogs change quickly after they stunned Penrith.

“Everyone changes their tune week after week,” he said.

“I think they had the Bulldogs written off a few weeks ago, but after the weekend they’re probably back in the loop.

“With that, it’s eliminating all the outside noise. We’ve got all the answers in the club here with the playing group and the coaching staff, but it’s just about applying it.

“People can have their opinions, but it doesn’t mean too much.”

The Storm have traditionally started seasons well to give them breathing room around the Origin period, but they can’t afford that now with just two wins.

But they haven’t given up yet and only have to look at the Panthers who were last after 12 rounds before they turned it around to get within one game of the grand final.

“You can certainly take inspiration from other teams and where they’ve been,” their skipper said.

“At the end of the day, it’s a different team, a different environment, and it’s us that’s in it and it’s us that can make it happen. It’s not just going to happen because it’s happened in the past.

“You’ve got to go out there and create it and make it happen yourself.”

All eyes will be on forward Joe Chan on Friday after he was hooked in the second half against the Warriors following three errors and a penalty despite being given a bake by Bellamy in the sheds at halftime.

“Everyone’s been in those shoes at times as a player,” Grant said.

“We just need Joey at his best. When he brings his strengths to the team and is at his best, he’s a great asset to the team.

“It’s important that he gets back to that this week and prepares well. You can single one player out, but it’s not just one player. It’s a collective 30-man squad, and that’s what it is.”

Originally published as ‘It’s not just one player’: Harry Grant defends Joe Chan after epic Craig Bellamy bake as Storm look to snap out of horror form slump