Melbourne Storm aren’t dirtier than NRL rivals, they’re better
Melbourne Storm didn’t invent wrestling, nor are they the dirtest team in the competition. The frustration stems from the fact that they are consistently better than their NRL rivals, writes ANTHONY GRIFFIN.
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It’s not the wrestle, it’s the record.
The fact that the Melbourne Storm have consistently been better than every other club is the real frustration for opposition teams, fans and some members of the media.
The Storm have worked on their defensive techniques just like everyone else.
They may have a few secrets that haven’t been discovered yet but generally every club works on the same stuff.
It’s even possible that other clubs may have developed better techniques and systems.
What isn’t possible is that any other club in the NRL has a better record than them. No other club has been as consistent or resilient with their performances and results, particularly in defence.
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Since 2015, Melbourne have appeared in three grand finals and won one.
In the past five seasons they have conceded an average of 13.8 points a game.
That is an extraordinary number. Anything under 15 points in a season is top shelf, but to be able to consistently produce this over 120 games is remarkable.
If we measure this achievement across the competition it highlights just how far in front the Storm are. The Roosters are the second ranked team over the same period averaging 16.9 points, and the Cronulla Sharks come in third at 18.26.
Let’s get one thing straight — everyone wrestles.
Controlling play the ball speed is such a massive part of the modern game. The rules committee and referees have developed endless policies and interpretations over the years to regulate this area. This hasn’t come about because the Storm practice and execute defensive control well, but because a lot of teams do.
So, is it the fact that they wrestle better than any other team that makes them so good? No, it’s not.
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Defence is all about attitude. Sure, there are different structures and techniques that make up a defensive system, but the core ingredients are mental toughness, aggression and selflessness.
The ability to be resilient under pressure and get your job done. Trusting and believing that the person either side of you is going to do the same for you.
These are some of the same values that our defence forces build their teams on as well. The Storm have built a successful culture that was born out of brutal off seasons and nonnegotiable disciplines.
With this cornerstone and their senior players leading it, they have been successful at whatever technique they’ve implemented over a lot of years; whether it be in defence or attack.
Craig Bellamy and Cameron Smith are still there but over the last five years they have replaced Slater, Cronk, Proctor, Hinchcliffe, Harris, McClean, Glasby, Green, Koroibete etc etc. Every year opposition coaches and commentators (including myself) have thought surely this is the year they fall off their perch.
If the rules changed tomorrow to only allow one-on-one tackles in our game, that would get rid of all the wrestling in the game.
It wouldn’t get rid of the Storm’s dominance though.
They would get to work on how to become the best one-on-one defensive team in the league.
At present, they miss fewer tackles than any other team in the NRL, so they already are the best. They also concede the least linebreaks and metres.
Until last Sunday, they led the league in linebreaks, running metres and points scored. And going into the final three rounds they are four points clear in the race for the minor premiership.
The Storm’s sustained success has much more depth to it than just wrestling.
Over the years the rules have changed, their team and coaching staff have changed.
What hasn’t changed is their results which have been driven by a relentless attitude and level of performance across every aspect of the game.
That’s what frustrates you: they won’t go away, because they’ve worked too hard to go away.
Originally published as Melbourne Storm aren’t dirtier than NRL rivals, they’re better
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