Melbourne know they must improve their ball control to end losing streak

MELBOURNE Storm know why they’ve slumped to back to back losses for the second time this season, but fixing the problem is easier said than done.

Melbourne Storm recovery at St Kilda beach. Jesse Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi. Pic: Michael Klein

STORM is tired of talking about completions and ball control but it stands in the way of the reigning premier’s bid to become the first NRL club in more than a quarter of a century to defends its crown.

After back-to-back losses to premiership rivals Souths and Cronulla, Melbourne is perilously placed in the top four, with only points’ differential separating it and Penrith, while St George, the Sharks and New Zealand stalk a further game behind.

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With three season-defining games to come before finals, Storm captain Cameron Smith signalled a “fairly honest” review would be on the cards when Melbourne players return to AAMI Park today.

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Storm played into Cronulla’s hands on Sunday night, gifting the Sharks early possession and territory off the back of basic errors and poor decisions.

“It’s a subject we’ve been talking about all year and I just don’t know why we can’t get our heads around that, to win footy games you need the ball,” Smith said after the game.

“And to play against sides competing for top four spots or that are going to be part of the finals you need to hold onto the ball especially.

“You look at the games where we have completed well, they’ve been easy, they’ve been easy for us, we’re a good football side when we hold the ball, but do we get a full understanding of that and actually believe in it, then I don’t things are going to change.”

Storm went into halftime on Sunday night trailing by nine points, having completed at a miserable 61 per cent.

Cronulla got the win over Melbourne for the second time this year. AAP Image/Daniel Pockett.

It improved vastly in the second half, as Melbourne poked and prodded the Cronulla defensive line in a bid to complete the comeback, but ultimately fell short 17-14.

Storm ended up completing 33 of 42 sets (79 per cent), having dominated possession for much of the second half.

The ugly performance prompted Storm coach Craig Bellamy to question his team’s “hunger”.

Disappointed Storm forward Tim Glasby yesterday said it was up to each individual player to decide whether they are “hungry enough” to do the “little things” well.

“You do hear of teams after winning a premiership losing that hunger but I don’t know, from my point of view, I was very keen to get out and perform again,” Glasby said.

The Storm will host Parramatta this weekend. Picture by Michael Klein.

“You don’t really think about premierships at the start of the season, or this time of the season, you’re just thinking about each game and performing well.”

Glasby said Storm needs to iron out the problems or risk an early finals exit.

“It’s something we really need to fix up because one thing you know is how you go through the season tends to come out in finals,” he said.

“If you can’t fix that in the next few weeks, we won’t be able to fix it up during finals.”

Storm will attempt to get its season back on track on Friday night against Parramatta, who shocked St George 40-4 on Saturday night.