Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\nThe Storm are struggling like never before. NRL PHOTOSSource: The Daily Telegraph<\/p>\n
Storm\u2019s slump in numbers <\/p>\n
\u2022 The Storm are just the second team in over 70 years to lose seven or more consecutive games in the season after making the grand final<\/p>\n
\u2022 The 260 total points conceded through nine games is a club record<\/p>\n
\u2022 Melbourne has had under 50 percent possession in five consecutive games in a season for<\/p>\n
just the fourth time since 2010<\/p>\n
\u2022 Melbourne has conceded a try just over every six tackles inside their 20, which is the worst try\/tackle ratio in the league (6.1)<\/p>\n
\u2022 The Storm are conceding the most linebreaks in the competition (7.6)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Melbourne has conceded more than 25 points in six-straight games<\/p>\n
The famed Storm system that previously lifted the overlooked into the spotlight has broken down, while even the club\u2019s biggest names aren\u2019t consistently reaching the same heights they once were.<\/p>\n
Harry Grant\u2019s impact out of dummy-half has been nullified, with the Queensland representative averaging a career-low 4.2 runs per game for just 29 metres.<\/p>\n
Cameron Munster, meanwhile, has just four try assists and three linebreak assists through the first nine games of the season with his eight runs for 66 metres also a career-low mark. <\/p>\n
Jahrome Hughes has been the best of an underperforming bunch, but even he admitted his performance last week against the Dolphins was \u201cprobably\u201d the \u201cworst\u201d of his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cI probably went out of our system and tried to do things on my own and that\u2019s when it just gets worse,\u201d Hughes told reporters on Wednesday. <\/p>\n
\u201cI probably had my worst game I\u2019ve ever played and I know it\u2019s because I did too much.\u201d<\/p>\n
It comes after an honest Munster revealed on the \u2018One Six Seven Podcast\u2019 that there had been times this year he considered retirement. <\/p>\n
\u201cAt the moment my defence hasn\u2019t been great,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019m making decisions I wouldn\u2019t usually make.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut when you\u2019re under pressure and trying to solves things on your own and that\u2019s not what you need for the team, you need to stay in the system.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re probably just in survival mode.\u201d<\/p>\n
So, what has gone wrong and how deep is the problem? <\/p>\n
Ponissi endorses Bellamy to save season | 07:01<\/p>\n
WHY THIS IS \u2018UNKNOWN TERRITORY\u2019 FOR THE STORM<\/p>\n
Well, let\u2019s start with one of the biggest talking points in the NRL this season: the controversial six-again change. <\/p>\n
Everyone largely knows what it has resulted in: faster rucks and more tries. <\/p>\n
But in relation to the Storm, what is more important is what it has taken away. <\/p>\n
Specifically, they are no longer the kings of wrestle because, well, the wrestle no longer really exists. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe game has changed,\u201d Brad Fittler said on the \u2018Freddy and the Eighth\u2019 podcast.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are a team in the last 20 years that have based their game on controlling the ruck. You can\u2019t control the ruck anymore, it\u2019s impossible.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey just blow six-agains and before you know it you\u2019re fatigued and the momentum has changed and the game\u2019s gone past you.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is a similar point to the one Matty Johns made last month, suggesting the Storm may be \u201cstruggling to adapt\u201d to the added speed and fatigue in the modern game.<\/p>\n
The numbers tell a similar story too, with the Storm finding it hard to defend against six-agains. <\/p>\n
So far this season, Melbourne is conceding a try 49.1 per cent of the time when the opposition has the ball for eight or more tackles. The next worst, for context, is Cronulla at 38.1 per cent. <\/p>\n
The Storm have also faced the most phases with eight or more tackles, while they have conceded the third-most six agains (5.3).<\/p>\n
Now, the six-again rule change is only part of the story.<\/p>\n
This is unknown territory for the Storm. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
After all, it is worth remembering the NRL first introduced the six-again rule back in 2020 \u2014 the same year Melbourne went on to win the premiership. <\/p>\n
That doesn\u2019t mean the rule changes aren\u2019t contributing to Melbourne\u2019s decline this season, but simply that it is just one of many factors. <\/p>\n
For example, maybe the Storm have found it especially hard to adapt this time with a mounting injury toll forcing inexperienced players into more prominent roles than expected. <\/p>\n
Not only does it take time for those players to develop combinations and an understanding with their teammates, particularly when it comes to defending on the edge, but the added fatigue in the game would only make their decision-making under pressure even worse.<\/p>\n
With that in mind, it isn\u2019t hard to see why the Storm are leaking more points and the vast majority of them have come on both edges, where indecision and miscommunication is most exposed. <\/p>\n
The Storm have conceded 44 of their 47 tries on the left and right edges, with the left side being the worst culprit. <\/p>\n
For Anasta, Melbourne\u2019s issues this year are best illustrated by centre Jack Howarth, who has \u201cplayed really well\u201d in that position for years despite being better suited to the second row.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s probably been found out a little bit now because he\u2019s not a genuine centre and the players around him aren\u2019t playing that well,\u201d Anasta said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat next man up thing has become too hard because of the lack of depth there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Storm suffer RECORD 7th straight loss | 06:09<\/p>\n
If there is one thing the Storm do have it is a star-studded spine, although even Anasta is worried that may not be enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a concern because they\u2019ve always had success with the same systems and they\u2019re not getting it,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo, do they need to rebuild not only the whole team, but the systems and the way that they approach the game and the rule changes with the six-again?<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat has worked for so long may not work in the modern day game and do they have to revisit that? Where does that take them? Who is going to be the future of the Melbourne Storm. Are they happy with what they\u2019ve got? Who\u2019s coming through? <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of decisions he made.\u201d <\/p>\n
That is only complicated by the fact that as Anasta went on to point out, there is also \u201cuncertainty\u201d surrounding Craig Bellamy\u2019s coaching future beyond this year. <\/p>\n
On that point, however, it helps that son Aaron has been learning his craft under Craig for a long time now while Melbourne\u2019s other assistants, Marc Brentnall and Ryan Hinchcliffe, have his backing.<\/p>\n
Regardless, there are \u201ca lot of unknowns\u201d for the club. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s deeply concerning for them. It\u2019s unknown territory,\u201d Anasta added.<\/p>\n
The idea of the Storm rebuilding is hard to imagine, given how long they have been the benchmark for success.<\/p>\n
And while the superstars may be underperforming, there are few clubs who could boast the kind of representative and big-game experience that the Storm have at the key positions. <\/p>\n
But that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t serious issues elsewhere in the roster that need to be addressed.<\/p>\n
Harry Grant looks dejected. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
THE SPINE<\/p>\n
When the word rebuild is mentioned, usually it involves fresh faces in the key positions. <\/p>\n
Fortunately, the Storm are not in the position where that will be needed. <\/p>\n
Entering the year, a spine of Sua Fa\u2019alogo, Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant would have been up there with the best in the NRL \u2014 if not the best.<\/p>\n
Sure, Munster has definitely not performed up to his own lofty standards and he would be the first person to admit that while Grant\u2019s usual impact out of dummy-half has been limited.<\/p>\n
That, as already covered, has more to do with the players around him than Grant himself. <\/p>\n
Fa\u2019alogo, meanwhile, has definitely had his fair share of mistakes and is not the sort of physical presence you want as your last line of defence. <\/p>\n
But he has also shown flashes of brilliance that suggest he is more than capable to be Ryan Papenhuyzen\u2019s long-term replacement, with the kind of speed and footwork that makes him a dynamic threat through the middle of the ruck playing off Munster, Hughes and Grant.<\/p>\n
Plus, Papenhuyzen didn\u2019t have a massive frame either and yet with time, he grew in confidence organising the defensive line and using the voice to guide the rest of the team. <\/p>\n
Fa\u2019alogo is in the early stages of that learning process. <\/p>\n
The 23-year-old is contracted to the Storm until the end of 2028, as is Grant while Hughes signed an extension last year that will keep him at Melbourne for the next four seasons.<\/p>\n
If there is a long-term question mark hanging over the Storm\u2019s spine moving forward it is Cameron Munster, who is contracted until the end of 2027 and had previously been linked with the Perth Bears. <\/p>\n
Munster ruled out an immediate move to the NRL\u2019s next expansion team last year, declaring he will see out the rest of his contract. That obviously doesn\u2019t mean he couldn\u2019t make the switch beyond 2027, but for now his full focus is on turning around Melbourne\u2019s fortunes.<\/p>\n
Where to next for the Storm? (Photo by Robert Cianflone\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
OUTSIDE BACKS<\/p>\n
If there has been one clear weakness for Melbourne this year, it has been defensive reads from the outside backs. <\/p>\n
A lot of that is a result of inexperience, with Bellamy forced to turn to the likes of six-game Kiwi Manaia Waitere and Rugby Sevens product Moses Leo.<\/p>\n
That won\u2019t be as big an issue in 2027, with Xavier Coates still on deck and fully recovered from his Achilles injury while the Storm have signed the experienced Jamayne Isaako to give them another aerial threat on the other wing.<\/p>\n
Of course, that isn\u2019t to say that depth beyond Coates and Isaako isn\u2019t a problem given they will be losing Will Warbrick and Nick Meaney, who has been a mainstay in the centres as well as plugging multiple holes for Bellamy when injuries have hit across the backline.<\/p>\n
Granted, Meaney\u2019s decision-making in defence hasn\u2019t been great this season but either way he was at least someone Bellamy could usually trust based on his previous track record.<\/p>\n
That leaves Jack Howarth (2027) and Waitere (2027) as the likely starting centre combination as it stands, with Siulagi Tuimalata-Brown as a potential depth option on the wing should he extend beyond this year. <\/p>\n
Marion Seve is another player Bellamy could turn to with confidence given he is one of the club\u2019s longest serving players, although his luckless run with injuries continued this year.<\/p>\n
Seve underwent surgery on a triceps injury only to re-rupture it earlier this season.<\/p>\n
There are a few younger players coming through the system that Bellamy could turn to, with Melbourne\u2019s Jersey Flegg and SG Ball teams finishing at the top of the ladder last year.<\/p>\n
But that would risk repeating the same issues that the Storm have had this year with inexperienced players struggling to make sound defensive decisions under pressure.<\/p>\n
Perhaps Melbourne could look to what Penrith\u2019s Ivan Cleary did in 2025, where he persisted with Casey McLean and Blaize Talagi despite their defensive deficiencies in the understanding that with time they would improve and get to where they are at now.<\/p>\n
But both McLean and Talagi have the kind of ceiling at their respective positions that warrants that kind of patience. The same, at this stage, can\u2019t be said for the host of players Bellamy has cycled through this season.<\/p>\n
Wishart confident Storm can bounce back | 04:28<\/p>\n
FORWARD PACK <\/p>\n
This is where injuries really seem to have hit the Storm the hardest.<\/p>\n
Most notably, Eliesa Katoa was ruled out for the entire 2026 season after a series of head knocks he suffered playing for Tonga last year. The two-time Dally M second rower of the year still hopes he is able to return to the field in 2027, but a final decision on that is not expected until after a rigorous medical examination this month. <\/p>\n
Then there is Tui Kamikamica, who is starting to work his way back towards a return after undergoing heart and brain surgery following a stroke. The Storm said in an update last week that there is no set date for his return but that they are \u201chopeful\u201d he will play again.<\/p>\n
Kamikamica is without a contract beyond this season, having signed a one-year extension in January despite initial fears he could be squeezed out due to salary cap pressures.<\/p>\n
New recruits Davvy Moale and Jack Hetherington haven\u2019t really kicked on in their first year at Melbourne, so it would make sense for the Storm to prioritise extending Kamikamica another season if possible given his experience and punch up front is something they have been seriously lacking.<\/p>\n
Kamikamica was averaging a highly-efficient 105 metres in just 36 minutes per game before he suffered the stroke, falling just short of his career-best mark (108m) in the 2021 season.<\/p>\n
Still, even when healthy it seems like the Storm are missing a true, dominant front rower who sets the tone up front and is an aggressor without taking that role too far.<\/p>\n
Storm\u2019s slump in numbers (Rounds 1-2 vs 3-9)<\/p>\n
Run metres: 1705 (2nd) vs 1221 (17th)<\/p>\n
Post-contact metres: 563 (2nd) vs 390 (16th)<\/p>\n
Tackle busts: 46.5 (2nd) vs 32.6 (15th)<\/p>\n
Offloads: 8.5 (equal 10th) vs 8.1 (15th)<\/p>\n
Total metres after offload: 170 (3rd) vs 259 (16th) <\/p>\n
Metres per offload phase: 10 (1st) vs 4.5 (16th) <\/p>\n
Melbourne\u2019s forward pack has struggled. (Photo by Robert Cianflone\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
They walked a fine line in that regard with Nelson Asofa-Solomona and by the end of his Melbourne tenure, it was clear he was not living up to the nearly $850,000-a-season price tag he was on.<\/p>\n
But either way, it left the Storm without a clear enforcer in the forward pack and the result has been an underwhelming output from the entire group this season, which has in turn muted Grant\u2019s ability to scheme from dummy-half.<\/p>\n
Stefano Utoikamanu was supposed to be that guy and proved he could be with just under 370 metres and 11 tackle busts in Melbourne\u2019s first two wins over the Eels and Dragons. <\/p>\n
But his form has dropped off beyond that point and while Utoikamanu absolutely still has that type of performance left in him, consistency is something he is continuing to search for.<\/p>\n
\u201cStefano is a really good forward but there\u2019s always been a question mark can he take it to that next level? Can he be an enforcer and a leader every week like a Payne Haas?\u201d Anasta said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe hasn\u2019t proven that. He\u2019s done really good at times and he\u2019s got the potential but he needs help.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even the usually dependable Josh King has been beaten on the inside a few many times this year in defence, with Anasta adding the 30-year-old has been \u201cway off the mark\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a culmination of a lack of confidence and belief, but they need a couple of forwards for sure,\u201d Anasta added.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately for Melbourne, there aren\u2019t many overly appealing names on the market to target who would be obvious upgrades on what they have right now. <\/p>\n
If there is a reason to be optimistic, when healthy Ativalu Lisati has looked a long-term option on the second row while Shawn Blore is also worth persisting with if the Storm can extend him beyond this season.<\/p>\n
They also have committed to their long-term answer at lock forward in Trent Loiero, although they need him to rediscover the form that got him selected for Origin last year and clean up his ill-discipline.<\/p>\n
The Storm are struggling. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
THE COACH<\/p>\n
This is both a complex and straight-forward situation for the Storm.<\/p>\n
Complex in the sense that no one truly knows what the future holds for Bellamy, even beyond the rugby league field, after it was revealed last week that he was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disorder.<\/p>\n
But it is also simple in that as long as Bellamy wants to remain head coach, that is what will happen. <\/p>\n
He has earned the right to call time on his career whenever he sees fit and equally has the backing of the entire club, from the playing group to general manager of football Frank Ponissi, if he wants to continue on beyond this year.<\/p>\n
That is what you deserve when you are as well respected as Bellamy is across the rugby league community.<\/p>\n
Munster told Channel Nine\u2019s \u2018100% Footy\u2019 earlier in the week that the players \u201cfully believe\u201d in Bellamy and \u201chave his back\u201d through this tough time.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe still has a lot to give to this team and the game,\u201d Munster added.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know it is doom and gloom at the moment, but hopefully we can play this season out for him. He is still one of the best coaches in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Storm release Bellamy health update | 01:49<\/p>\n
Bellamy signed a contract extension through to the end of 2028 in February and Ponissi told reporters last week he has \u201cabsolutely no doubt\u201d Bellamy has \u201cthe fire in the belly\u201d to see out this year\u2019s campaign.<\/p>\n
As for beyond then? It isn\u2019t fair on Bellamy to speculate, and as Broncos coach Michael Maguire said last week \u201cknowing Craig… he\u2019s a fighter\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo he\u2019ll get through this and keep coaching,\u201d Maguire, who previously served as assistant coach under Bellamy, added.<\/p>\n
Ponissi echoed similar sentiments after the loss to the Dolphins last week, even if he admitted that it has been a \u201chard\u201d last few weeks for Bellamy.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut he\u2019s as committed as ever,\u201d Ponissi added. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou just had to be in that dressing room now to see the passion he\u2019s got and the commitment. He doesn\u2019t like where we are now, none of us do, and he works as hard as he\u2019s ever done before.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all hurting, and frustrated too, but we\u2019re certainly not going to be throwing in the towel. He just wants to now focus on coaching and getting us back to winning.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Nine minor premierships. Five premierships. 11 grand finals. 18 top-four finishes. Braith Anasta was right when he told…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":658417,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[603,318230,141763,8300,64,63,689,232601,1365,651,4567,169492,318225,4438,318242,36100,11241,318245,8089,318232,219797,79818,74810,318221,2105,47999,318237,8095,5330,318226,7681,318229,305183,5088,4490,318241,5098,4474,4569,4575,4473,291445,99277,27146,318222,318217,167188,318236,4466,318233,6407,318247,174141,85620,63209,4609,677,13390,318239,6264,318240,318219,701,14444,311270,318243,3247,159,16205,7623,318234,318244,4488,318231,262628,318224,262627,318227,318238,318218,85,318228,58049,318246,311058,318220,11375,7663,82590,122747,318223,318235,318216],"class_list":["post-658416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-aaron","tag-added-fatigue","tag-aerial-threat","tag-andrew-jackson","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-big-game-experience","tag-brain-surgery","tag-brisbane","tag-cameron-munster","tag-cap-pressures","tag-career-low-mark","tag-casey-mclean","tag-clear-weakness","tag-consecutive-games","tag-contract-extension","tag-controversial-six-again-change","tag-craig-bellamy","tag-depth-option","tag-expansion-team","tag-faalogo","tag-fair-share","tag-genuine-centre","tag-getty-images-inc","tag-grand-finals","tag-growing-injury-toll","tag-harry-grant","tag-head-coach","tag-high-quality-team","tag-ian-hitchcock","tag-immediate-move","tag-inexperienced-players","tag-injury-list","tag-injury-toll","tag-intimidating-presence","tag-ivan-cleary","tag-jack-hetherington","tag-jack-howarth","tag-jahrome-hughes","tag-josh-king","tag-key-positions","tag-learning-process","tag-linebreak-assists","tag-lofty-standards","tag-long-term-question-mark","tag-long-term-replacement","tag-marc-brentnall","tag-melbourne-storm","tag-mental-scars","tag-michael-maguire","tag-minor-premierships","tag-moses-leo","tag-mounting-injury-toll","tag-neurodegenerative-disorder","tag-nick-meaney","tag-oceania","tag-payne-haas","tag-physical-presence","tag-price-tag","tag-prominent-roles","tag-purple-strain","tag-queensland","tag-question-mark","tag-record-seventh-straight-loss","tag-right-edges","tag-robert-cianflone","tag-rugby-league","tag-rule-changes","tag-run-metres","tag-ryan-hinchcliffe","tag-serving-players","tag-shawn-blore","tag-shock-roster-reality","tag-six-again-rule","tag-six-again-rule-back","tag-six-again-rule-change","tag-six-straight-games","tag-sobering-picture","tag-sound-defensive-decisions","tag-sports","tag-star-studded-spine","tag-steve-kerr","tag-storm-centre-jack","tag-storm-release","tag-storm-spine-players","tag-tackle-busts","tag-talking-points","tag-top-four-finishes","tag-tui-kamikamica","tag-underperforming-bunch","tag-unknown-territory","tag-worst-culprit"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/658416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=658416"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/658416\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/658417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=658416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=658416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=658416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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