Jesse Bromwich warns Melbourne Storm yet to reach potential despite strong start to season

STAR front-rower Jesse Bromwich has warned Melbourne Storm is yet to play to its potential despite dropping only one game in the first five rounds.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 02: Jesse Bromwich of the Storm is tackled during the round five NRL match between the Melbourne Storm and the Newcastle Knights at AAMI Park on April 2, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

STAR front-rower Jesse Bromwich has warned Melbourne Storm is yet to play to its potential this season despite dropping only one game in the first five rounds.

Storm sits equal top of the NRL ladder with Brisbane, even though it is yet to produce an 80-minute performance this season.

Melbourne just pipped struggling Newcastle at AAMI Park on Sunday, and Bromwich said there was plenty to work on before Monday night’s home clash with the Bulldogs.

“We’re winning games which is good, but we aren’t playing to our potential yet,” Bromwich said.

“Defensively we’re doing a really good job, but our attack needs a little bit of work and that’s something we’re working hard at.

“We’ve got a few things to work on, but it’s good that we’re still grinding the games out.”

Storm’s attack has struggled at times this season, hurt by weekly changes to the side on the back of a stack of injuries to its outside backs. It has resulted in a backline reshuffle in recent weeks that the side is still adjusting to.

Although, the squad has been bolstered by Jeremy Hawkins’ return through the Queensland Cup last weekend and fellow back Cheyse Blair a chance to play this week.

Bromwich reckons the Storm are winning without being at their best.

“I think [the depth has] definitely been tested,” Bromwich said. “We have a few young boys in there at the moment playing in the backs. We’ve got Tohu (Harris) there filling a few positions and a couple of young boys on the bench.

“I think we just need to keep working hard at training as hard work is what fixes most problems.”

The Bulldogs will come to Melbourne with confidence given the recent matches between the two sides. While Canterbury is coming off a loss to Canberra on Monday night, it has won its past five matches against Storm.

Bromwich said the likes of James Graham and Tony Williams always prove a handful.

“The Bulldogs have been a hard team for us the past couple of years,” he said.

“I’m expecting to them to come down and play a strong game after Monday night’s loss for them, so they’ll be looking to bounce back and it’ll be a hard challenge.

“They’ve got some world class players in their forward pack and they’ve also got some big names in their outside backs. It’ll be a big test for us.”

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Originally published as Jesse Bromwich warns Melbourne Storm yet to reach potential despite strong start to season