The Storm have shown the first signs of instability under Craig Bellamy this off-season, with the white powder scandal and a number of big-name players making the move away from the powerhouse club.
Felise Kaufusi, the Bromwich brothers and Brandon Smith will all depart after the 2022 season, joining the Dolphins and the Roosters respectively.
The Storm have already lost Nicho Hynes, Dale Finucane, Josh Addo-Carr, Max King, Brenko Lee, Aaron Pene and Aaron Booth this season but have welcomed Nick Meaney, Xavier Coates, Josh King, William Warbrick and Jayden Nikorima to the club.
Bellamy has never lost in the opening round of an NRL season since his appointment in 2003 but he will have a number of key players missing this year.
Cameron Munster, Chris Lewis and Brandon Smith will all miss Round 1 due to the aforementioned white powder scandal, while Harry Gant is also out with an on-field related suspension.
With the first cracks appearing in the Storm in years, foxsports.com.au breaks down the Storm ahead of a huge season.
Since 2003, Craig Bellamy has not lost in the first round of an NRL season whilst leading the Storm.
Every year, speculation arises if he can keep that record and time and time again he proves why he is one of the best coaches of all time.
Cronk believes it is ridiculous to doubt Melbourne come Round 1.
“The Storm’s record under Bellamy in Round 1 is perfect, they have never lost so basically they will throw anyone in, in Round 1, and they will win,” Cronk said.
“It is the way that Craig Bellamy gets his team fighting, he coaches in the now and the next most important thing for him is the next training session.
“I think a lot of coaches sort of look beyond week one, firing at week twelve and humming when it comes to finals but that is what Craig Bellamy’s strength is, he worries about what is happening right now and not tomorrow.
“Obviously some big names are missing but I expect the Melbourne Storm minus those players, they will be there , more than there , they have a history of coming up with very consistent high level performances without their best players.
“Nobody thought they would have gone and equalled an NRL record after losing arguably the best ever NRL player in Cameron Smith, they go on to win 19 straight and set a pointscoring record.
“They just find a way, through hard training and preparation and it doesn’t matter who is there in Round 1, Bellamy has his team cherry ripe for the first game of the year.”
While Cronk is confident the Storm will still be at their devastating best, Queensland great Brent Tate isn’t so convinced.
Tate will back Bellamy any of the day of the week but believes the Storm’s culture — which is usually second to none — has slipped.
“I’d be interested to see how the Storm go this year,”
“I think for the first time ever, ‘Bellyache’, with his senior and influential players, they’ve compromised a little bit. That’s just from the outside looking in.
“With Munster, Smith getting into a bit of trouble, I just think they’ve compromised just a little bit on what their club is about, so I’m going to be really interested to see how that goes.
“I’ve got all the respect in the world for Bellyache so I still wouldn’t back against them in Round 1 that’s for sure.”
