Most pundits probably expected a weakened Papy-Hughes-less Storm to lose.
But not like this.
In last night's round 10 post-match presser a calm, philosophical Craig Bellamy, at least on the surface, described how the Panthers Strangled his team.
Munster described his team as "poor" and playing like "under-12s": "not us". Adding with a hint of anger, "I can't wait for next week" as he walked off in frustration, and a fire in his belly. For atonement.
This 26 point margin, 6-32 Storm loss was quite extraordinary. It is the Storm's:
- heaviest loss to the Panthers (since inception 1998, over 40 games); the previous worst was a 16-36 loss (R20, 2002 when Mark Murray was coach).
- heaviest loss in almost a decade (since R18, 2013, 39-0, 8 tries to 0, Stadium Australia loss to the Dogs)
- heaviest loss at Suncorp (over 32 games, since 2004, previous worst was a 13-point margin 28-15 loss v Broncos, R19, 2005 and a 12-point margin 10-22 loss to the Eels R24, 2021)
The Panthers made Storm look powerless to stop wave after wave of Panthers pressure - in contrast to us last week.
We seemed to handle the wave after wave of Panthers pressure a lot better than the Storm despite having our own injury concerns, and then against-all-odds beat the best.
It made me wonder, "What does all this mean?"
Is this an early warning symptom the two-decade domination of the Storm cultural juggernaut may be in the decline in a few years to come? It's too early to tell.
But, I wouldn't write off the Storm yet. They had a 28 point margin loss back in 2012 too, and won the damn comp. But, it does make me wonder whether they are up to beating the current-Panthers when their best meets the best. Additionally, this massacre will motivate the hurt, bashed and bloodied Storm. I expect them to bounce back with a vengeance.
Also, I wouldn't book us in a place for the grand final either, not yet, despite our tough wins over these two. We might just lose today against the on-off-often clunky 2022 Roosters who have a point to prove and Teddy's 100th for them. We may be the first team to stay in the top -eight over 80 rounds, but we are not at the Panthers' level yet. And the finals need back-to-back weeks of intensity.
Three, it probably reinforces an NRL axiom: the vital importance of key spine stars, in particular the number seven, which applies even to the best in the competition with the best depth in the competition. After all, the Panthers did exact revenge on last year's 37-10 (R20) Storm thumping over them when they were Cleary-less. And the worst losses of the premiers in NRL history (e.g. Knights 40 point loss with Joey) were without their key half stars. So, maybe we shouldn't read too much into it. After all, we were thumped 0-28 by the Roosters in the last outing when Jake Arthur was at seven (with Moses out).
What is definitely clear is what a young, hungry team this Panthers team is. Week after week. Young lions that inflict wave after wave of relentless, unbearable, high-velocity pressure to erode and dismantle even the best defensive fortresses the NRL has to offer. They are one with each other. The most intense team in the competition. It shows what a task we managed last week, and our potential. But can we be as intense this week?
What impressed me was at the end of the game, the Panthers got into a huddle, as one. The job's not even close to being done for them. After last week's 2 point loss against us, they looked to make a statement and draw a line in the sand. Something we must do as well.
Replies
Melbourne have good players in key positions, I don't think many of their players outside of key positions would make it into our side.
They have a full representative level forward pack mostly from NZ, 2nd best hooker in the game playing lock. One of the games best up and coming wingers, a PNG centre who would walk into NSW origin side with latrell out and you don't think they have good players outside key positions.
Yes we have strong forward pack but would love to have bromich and big NOS in our side
A full representative level forward pack that gets dominated by our non-representative forward pack.
Yes I would probably take Nelson but that's about it in the forwards.
Meaney was unwanted by two clubs struggling big time and Jennings was unwanted by us.
Coates is over rated in my opinion, he had 5 runs last night, that's not enough for a modern winger, he only wants to do the easy work.
Yes I would take Olam, he is a no brainer.
Thats maybe 3 or 4 players out of a possible 13, as I said not many would make our side.
This shows again, the spine is the most important part of a modern NRL side, no Pap, no Hughes, no hope, even with the 32 tackles and fantastic game of Cam Munster. It further etchers in rock, the foolishness of moving our 6 to 4.
Also some people espouse the theory that a team needs a loss, that a team can't stay up week in week out, well the Panthers disprove that, they are hungry every week, they were good against us, we were just better, they have been up week in week out for 3 years, if they can do it, our team can do it.
I think the Storm were well in it until Wishart dropped that bomb before half time.
If he catches that I think the game would've remained much closer - critical error at a critical part of the game just before half time.
I don't the Storm are the same side of a few years ago when Cameron Smith, Slater and Cronk were there. It's also clear they're not a wet weather side. As for the Panthers they're a very good side but they're also a dirty side.
Storm are missing C Smith big time. Grant is the most overrated player in the comp. When his team are rolling he has a brilliant running game but when struggling (whether Storm or Qld) he just becomes a defensive liability
Sack Bellamy
Might be time.....
The stats from last night show how dominate the Panthers can be, storm running metres 1028, 51 missed tackles, zero line break's and they made 370 tackles. The Panthers are relentless without the ball and have a way of sufficating teams by not allowing them near thier redzone.The back 5 for Panthers numbers in terms of running metres all in excess of 140 metres it's like having a back up forward pack. I'm hoping for Eels v Panthers GF it would be tough,close and exciting.
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