The heat is on Melbourne Storm’s forward pack amid suggestions it has lost its long-standing fear and intimidation factor heading into Friday night’s preliminary final against Penrith.
Chief Fox League rugby league reporter James Hooper believes comments from James Graham and Aaron Woods on NRL 360 this week could even be used as motivation as Craig Bellamy’s team faces the ultimate test against the mighty Panthers pack.
Graham and Woods said it was clear Melbourne’s pack was not what it once was.
“The thing with Melbiourne is, one of their trademarks that they were so well known for was their controlling of the rucks. They had an identity you’d feel as a player — you knew when you were in a Melbourne Storm-style tackle,” Graham said on Tuesday night.
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“Whether it’s a personnel issue or not, it’s just not been there. They haven’t managed to have that
“And that reputation, you’re really thinking when you’re going out there, am I going to have to play a bit differently to counteract it? But they don’t have that reputation any more.”
Woods suggested the losses of Felise Kaufusi, along with Jesse and Kenny Bromwich to the Dolphins had been a big part in the Storm losing their aura. While Nelson Asofa-Solomona remains an intimidating figure, Hooper said the likes of skipper Christian Welch and Tui Kamikamica needed to stand up.
“It’s become personal (for the Storm) this week because there’s been a lot of commentary around the Melbourne storm and the fact that, if you take Nelson out of that starting pack and all of a sudden it’s workers, it’s up and comers.
“But there’s a bit of an element of (suggesting it’s) a pop gun pack and I think that’s been specifically aimed at Melbourne’s front rowers.
“… I’ve got no doubt that (the criticism) will be getting tapped into by the Melbourne Storm … they’ll be looking to tap into every one per cent edge and I thought it was cutting and 100 per cent spot on criticism
“They have lost a bit of that fear factor without the Bromich brothers and without Felise Kaufusi.”
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NRL legend Gorden Tallis added:“You watch (James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota) at Penrith and the job they’ve done … they’re ready for the big occasion.
“It’s not just on Nelson (for the Storm), it’s the other guys. It’s gotta be a whole eight-man pack siege mentally if Melbourne Storm want to get the job done. They’ve just got to go at them and it’s got to be every man’s job.
“You’ve got to make it personal.”
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