2015's NRL Favourites aka The Upper Echelon - Can't Forget The Storm
There's one more NRL team (the Cowboys) that have definitely earned the right to sit alongside such esteemed company in the NRL's Upper Echelon, but they can fill up a few pages themselves. With that, we're going to look at veterans of the Upper Echelon, the guys who sit in the back with their feet up, safe in the respect they have gathered thanks to a decade or so near the top.
The Melbourne Storm and the Manly Sea Eagles (more on them soon) won't be a widely celebrated favourite to win it all this season, but you can definitely make a case for both. The mere fact that the Storm are in the mix thanks to the pieces around their big 3 , shows how the Storm think as an NRL club.
Any Melbourne Storm discussion has to start with Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater. I'm predicting these lads to be a the top of their game this season as they've enjoyed a decent off season, only Cooper Cronk was involved in the Four Nations and he's up their with the most professional-look-after-yourself players in the NRL.
While the rest is obviously nice, having someone like Billy Slater who has battled constant knee injuries in recent years rest and then get plenty of strength and conditioning done will be a boost. The Storm also have a few younger lads who need to step up at NRL level, I say need to because the time has come. Last year the got given a chance and while they did pretty good, this year they need to show that they can take over the reigns without upsetting the balance too much. Craig Bellamy needs to partner Cronk with someone and I'm picking Ben Hampton and it's time for Hampton to make his mark. Expect Cameron Munster to slot in to fullback should Slater decide to go on a little State Of Origin escape.
The big 3 is the big 3 and the Storm have stayed near the top simply thanks to the big 3, but this forward pack for the Storm is something else. Both in terms of punch and depth - Jesse Bromwich is a top 3 NRL prop, Tohu Harris is huge and has great footwork and skill, Kevin Proctor is quickly becoming one of the most dangerous edge back rowers and picking up Dale Finucane is a great buy. Finucane is tough and rugged, perfectly suited to the 'do you job' mentality of the Storm and he can play either on an edge (possible Ryan Hoffman replacement) or in the middle as a prop.
Having Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Kenny Bromwich, Dayne Weston Jordan McClean, Felise Kaufusi, Tim Glasby and Nelson Asofa-Solomona in your squad means that there's plenty of muscle. We can't forget Ryan Hinchcliffe is up among the most underrated players in the game.
The forward pack for the Storm simply has to hold their own in the middle and if they can, get the upper hand. But when you have Jesse Bromwich, you've suddenly got a totally different dimension on attack. The Storm could be predictable, but still very good as Craig Bellamy's reputation as someone who can get the best out of NRL battlers meant that their forwards did their job, but couldn't do a whole lot more. Having Jesse B in your pack means that attacking movements can start from him with a step, quick play the ball or off load which means that the big 3 are the ones playing with time and space, instead of trying to create that time and space.
While there's plenty of depth out wide as well, Will Chambers is going to be the key constant in the Storm back line. Big, strong and quick, Chambers adds that bit of class out wide and should lock down a centre spot.
The other spot should be filled by Mahe Fonua who spent plenty of time there last season, but trying to figure out who will play on the wing is a lot harder. Hymel Hunt and Kurt Mann will keep the starters honest in the centres and this idea of competition is clear throughout the entire Storm backline, which wasn't always the case.
The Storm have always had a rotating cast of players who could perform on the wing and this year's no different as Matt Duffie looks to be healthy, Marika Koroibete is a very fast beast, Young Tonumaipea burst on to the scene last year while Travis Robinson can do a job - run fast and tackle. I'd keep an eye on young Fijian Suliasi Vunivalu as well, you could watch a Storm game with two Fijian monsters on the flanks.
It's been interesting looking at the Storm's squad each season, trying to decipher the mindset of Craig Bellamy as he tries to get the best out of his big 3. The big 3 has played alongside some great players (kind of illegally), they've played alongside a team full of battlers while last season we saw them largely play with a group of kids finding their way through this NRL maze. All the while, they've held their own in the NRL which is no easy task.
This year I think the Storm have the perfect mix. They have a big 3 who are ready to rip in, they have a forward pack who can not only beat you up but also play some razzle dazzle and they have a back line who can all do a job, but then create chances one on one as well. I'd watch out for the Storm if I were you. This season could be up for grabs, it's got that vibe of being a lottery and the Storm certainly have enough to cruise through the season and go on a run through the finals.