NRL: Melbourne Storm Team of the Decade boasts Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk
As arguably the best team of the decade, the Melbourne Storm were always going to boast a 17 the envy of the NRL. But boasting a handful of Immortals-in-waiting, this mob would be very hard to beat. FULL TEAM INSIDE.
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Seventeen premiership stars.
It says a bit about how successful Melbourne Storm has been since 2009, turning four minor premierships in six grand final appearances and two premierships.
Most if not all of the positions were set and forget, with Immortals-in-waiting Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk leading the way.
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Electric wingers Suliasi Vunivalu and Josh Addo-Carr get in on their effectiveness, strike rate and potency, as well helping the Storm secure the 2017 premiership.
Playmaker Cameron Munster has been nothing short of a revelation at the Storm, first at fullback then as premiership and representative five-eighth.
With current vice-captains Jesse Bromwich and Dale Finucane getting towards the twilight of their careers, Munster’s maturity in recent years has the Rockhampton junior on the leadership radar.
The second centre position was a lottery between Justin O’Neill and Curtis Scott.
Loaded up the bench with reliable and hardworking forwards that would run through walls for the purple jersey.
Props Jordan McLean and Tim Glasby were hardest to leave out.
1. Billy Slater – Simply the best of his generation, if not ever, who delivered on the biggest stages for all levels.
2. Suliasi Vunivalu – Set the record for most tries (22) in a debut season and hasn’t missed a beat since, scoring 72 meat pies in 94 Storm appearances.
3. Will Chambers – A mainstay of the Storm’s premiership era who also delivered for Queensland and Australia. Widely-regarded the best defensive centre in the world for the best part of the decade.
4. Justin O’Neill – Edged out Curtis Scott, both played in premierships but O’Neill gets the nod on durability and consistency.
5. Josh Addo-Carr – The NRL’s fastest man went from unfulfilled talent to premiership winger, NSW Origin winner and now Australian Kangaroos finisher inside three seasons.
6. Cameron Munster – Tough and skilful, Munster combines clean hands, slick feet and a razor sharp footy brain to torment opposition with and without the ball.
7. Cooper Cronk – At risk of sounding repetitive... simply the best of his generation, if not ever, who delivered on the biggest stages for all levels.
8. Jesse Bromwich – Literally walked in off the street to become a premiership and international star. Fearless in his approach and captain-in-waiting at the Storm.
9. Cameron Smith – The GOAT. Has the most records for records owned.
10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona – Scary to think ‘Big Nasty’ is now only hitting the peak of his powers.
11. Felise Kaufusi – Tackling machine with a nose for the tryline. Pound for pound one of the strongest at the club, to go with premiership and representative jerseys.
12. Tohu Harris – ‘Mr Reliable’ scored 19 tries in 118 games at the Storm, filled in a variety of roles, including five-eighth, centre and lock, but saved his best for when in the second row.
13. Dale Finucane – Absolute workhorse that runs as hard in his first minute as he does in the last. Mr Reliable II.
14. Kenny Bromwich – Strong ball runner capable of playing any position on the field. Flies under the radar but it suits the premiership and Kiwis star who lets actions do his talking. Mr Reliable III.
15. Ryan Hoffman – Stiff not to be named a starter, with runs and silverware on the board, but edged out by Harris because spent most of decade abroad.
16. Kevin Proctor – Storm U20s graduate turned premiership star, starred in the top flight playing 180 games across nine seasons before signing long-term deal at Gold Coast Titans.
17. Ryan Hinchcliffe – Heart and soul premiership star that wouldn’t know how to take a backward step. Another from the breakthrough 2012 premiership class.
Originally published as NRL: Melbourne Storm Team of the Decade boasts Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk