Storm skipper Harry Grant says his side is \u201cdefensively not up to standard\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s defensively where they\u2019ve really struggled, with Melbourne conceding 158 points through the opening six rounds, including 116 in their past three games. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a level that we need to be performing to, and we\u2019re certainly not there at the moment with application on the field,\u201d Grant said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been preparing really well for games and there are answers in the team and in the coaching squad, but it\u2019s up to us to put in practice for performances on the weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Club legend Billy Slater questioned their attitude after the Warriors loss, while Brad Fittler described their defence as \u201cterrible\u201d on the Sunday Footy Show.<\/p>\n
Grant said all criticism of the team was fair leading into Friday\u2019s showdown with the Raiders, but he wasn\u2019t going to be driven by it after seeing people\u2019s opinions of the Bulldogs change quickly after they stunned Penrith. <\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone changes their tune week after week,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they had the Bulldogs written off a few weeks ago, but after the weekend they\u2019re probably back in the loop.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith that, it\u2019s eliminating all the outside noise. We\u2019ve got all the answers in the club here with the playing group and the coaching staff, but it\u2019s just about applying it.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople can have their opinions, but it doesn\u2019t mean too much.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Storm have traditionally started seasons well to give them breathing room around the Origin period, but they can\u2019t afford that now with just two wins.<\/p>\n
But they haven\u2019t 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. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou can certainly take inspiration from other teams and where they\u2019ve been,\u201d their skipper said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, it\u2019s a different team, a different environment, and it\u2019s us that\u2019s in it and it\u2019s us that can make it happen. It\u2019s not just going to happen because it\u2019s happened in the past.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to go out there and create it and make it happen yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone\u2019s been in those shoes at times as a player,\u201d Grant said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just need Joey at his best. When he brings his strengths to the team and is at his best, he\u2019s a great asset to the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important that he gets back to that this week and prepares well. You can single one player out, but it\u2019s not just one player. It\u2019s a collective 30-man squad, and that\u2019s what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n