Johnathan Thurston tips Melbourne to be the first team to win back-to-back NRL premierships

SINCE the birth of the NRL in 1998, no team has clinched consecutive titles. But Johnathan Thurston believes Melbourne can become the first team to win back-to-back premierships.

This bloke is a bloody machine. (AAP Image/Hamish Blair)

COWBOYS champion Johnathan Thurston has declared Melbourne will overcome the loss of Cooper Cronk to become the first team in the NRL’s 20-year era to win back-to-back premierships.

Since the birth of the NRL in 1998, no team has clinched consecutive titles, with the Storm having previously failed to defend their crown on four occasions spanning two decades.

But as Melbourne prepare for Friday night’s grudge match against 2016 grand final nemesis the Sharks, Thurston says not even the loss of Roosters recruit Cronk can halt the Storm’s surge to the summit.

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Melbourne have proven themselves time and again. (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Thurston is one of the few playmakers to have toppled the Storm in the finals furnace, engineering a 32-12 preliminary-final thumping of Melbourne at AAMI Park which set up the Cowboys’ charge to their maiden premiership in 2015.

But Thurston was adamant Melbourne’s class of 2018 can make history, saying the Storm’s remarkable comeback defeat of Souths in the opening week of the finals was evidence of their hunger.

This bloke is a bloody machine. (AAP Image/Hamish Blair)

“Melbourne are the team to beat, they can go all the way,” Thurston said. “When they get into the trenches, there is no better team.

“When I was watching the Souths-Melbourne game the other week, it was brutal and I thought I would love to see the Storm and Souths in the grand final again, they were just flogging each other. It was the most entertaining game of the year.

“I also wouldn’t mind seeing the Roosters play Melbourne in the grand final so then it’s Cooper Cronk against the Storm … imagine how big that story would be.

“Whoever makes the grand final, I just like Melbourne. Cam (Smith) is a huge factor.”

Famed for their defensive steel, the Storm have maintained their standards this season.

In their title charge last year, Melbourne leaked 336 points during the regular season at an average of 14 points per game. This season, they conceded 363 at a mark of 15.1, proof for Thurston the Storm are hellbent on more premiership success.

South Sydney couldn’t break through. (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

“Their defensive structures are so hard to break down,” he said.

“Another huge advantage is the fact that all their finals will be played at home so they don’t have to travel.

“The only travel they will have to do is going to Sydney if they make the grand final.

“That makes a huge difference at this time of the season on your energy levels … when you have semi-finals at home and you don’t have to travel.”

The best coach of the NRL era? (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Champion Melbourne fullback Billy Slater said Storm coach Craig Bellamy simply wouldn’t tolerate a failed campaign — with or without Cronk.

“We have never looked at losing players and accepted a slide in standards or performances,” he said.

“As a squad we have picked up the slack after losing Cooper and been more creative.

“I don’t like looking at outcomes but we wouldn’t be in this position if we didn’t feel we could be successful (in winning the premiership) again.

“History shows how hard it is to win back-to-back titles.

“We know we have a few obstacles before we can dream of another premiership.”

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