Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy says his team has drawn added motivation for the 2015 NRL season from their painful finals exit last year.
The team were eliminated in week one by a merciless Canterbury outfit, but it was the manner of their defeat that rankles Bellamy and his players.
In front of a home crowd they trailed 24-0 at halftime time before losing 28-4.
Bellamy said then that he was “embarrassed” by the first half performance and five months on, it still stings.
“There’s always a couple of games throughout your career that you look back on and thought that hurt or that was harder to take than others and that was one of them and it was all our own doing,” Bellamy said.
“It left a sour taste in our mouth so you’d like to think that’s going to drive us a little bit more.
“It was a really disappointing way to finish, so hopefully we can learn from our mistakes.”
But can you teach an old dog new tricks – with the Storm’s three big stars Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater on the wrong side of 30?
It was revealed post-season that Slater had played since the final State of Origin match using pain-killers to mask a shoulder injury that required surgery.
A fully fit and firing Slater will go a long way towards helping the Storm add to their 1999 and 2012 premierships.
In the AFL heartland, “premiership window” is a buzz term.
Bellamy believes the Storm’s still sits wide, despite the ageing of his key trio.
“We certainly think our window’s still open,” he said.
“I don’t know whether that’s being naive or practical and realistic but that’s what we see.”
The Storm have lost some important players in Ryan Hoffman (Warriors), Sisa Waqa (Canberra), Justin O’Neill (North Queensland) and Bryan Norrie (retired).
They have recruited some experienced big bodies in Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Raiders) and Dale Finucane (Canterbury) but perhaps their most important signing is five-eighth Blake Green.
Green made 89 appearances in the Super League with Wigan and Hull KR, having shifted his career overseas after failing to nail down a role with three NRL clubs.
Now 28, Green might be able to take pressure off fellow playmakers Cronk and Smith, which Ben Hampton never really did.
Bellamy said he’s yet to decide who will be the starting No.6, with Hampton still in the race.
“What he’s done in pre-season training we’ve really liked but Ben Hampton’s been the same,” he said.
“Transferring that to the field is going to be the deciding factor.”
Another player Bellamy is trying to squeeze into his match-day squad is Cameron Munster.
The 20-year-old made one NRL appearance last year but is ear-marked for more this season.
With the fullback role filled by Slater, Munster could find himself on the wing or in the centres.
“We are going to try him in a couple of different positions and see how he handles that,” Bellamy said.
“He’s a talented kid and he’s certainly got the ability to play first grade. It’s just a matter of finding that position.”
MELBOURNE STORM
Premierships: 2 – 1999, 2012
Finishes over the past three seasons: 2014 – 6th, 2013 – 3rd, 2012 – Premiers
Coach: Craig Bellamy
Captain: Cameron Smith
Gains – Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Raiders), Shaun Nona (Northern Pride), Blake Green (Wigan Warriors), Dale Finucane (Bulldogs)
Losses – Ryan Hoffman (Warriors), Sisa Waqa (Raiders), Rhys Kennedy (Raiders), Justin O’Neill (Cowboys), Bryan Norrie (Retired), George Rose (Dragons), Cody Walker (Rabbitohs), Mitch Garbutt (Broncos), Ben Roberts(Castleford Tigers), Joel Romelo (Qld Cup), Junior Moors (Castleford Tigers)
Strength: Any side with the big three – Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater – can’t be discounted. Their forward pack is young, mobile and hungry with Dale Finucane and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs adding some starch.
Weakness: They are still to nail down a five-eighth partner for Cronk since the departure of Gareth Widdop. Veteran Blake Green returns to the NRL to challenge mercurial Ben Hampton.
Money Man: Fullback Billy Slater played the last two months requiring pain-killing injections in his shoulder after an Origin injury. A fit and firing Slater should make a big difference.
One to watch: Blake Green. The five-eighth returns to the NRL after 89 appearances in the Super League with Wigan and Hull KR. Green hit his straps in the Super League after struggling to settle early in the NRL.
Best team: Billy Slater, Marika Koroibete, Will Chambers, Mahe Fonua, Matt Duffie, Blake Green, Cooper Cronk, Jordan McClean, Cameron Smith, Jesse Bromwich, Tohu Harris, Kevin Proctor, Dale Finucane. Res: Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Kenny Bromwich, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Tim Glasby.
Predicted finish: 6th
Betting: $15
