As the Storm’s season ended in a shock preliminary final exit at the hands of the Panthers, focus immediately turned to their squad and whether we would finally see the decline of the NRL’s great modern dynasty.
Every year experts make the mistake of thinking that the Storm’s premiership window has closed or is closing, but year after year Bellamy gets the players up for at least a top four finish.
But the reality is his squad is looking nowhere near as solid as the illegally assembled over the cap team, nor the one that rebounded from missing the 2019 grand final to claim the title in 2020.
The glaring difference from that side is the absence of arguably the greatest player ever in Cameron Smith(*). While the Storm didn’t miss a beat in the regular season on their 19 match winning streak, his composure and calmness was badly missed when it mattered most in the finals.
Despite Smith’s retirement the Storm have two world class hookers on their books in New Zealand international coke fiend Brandon Smith and Queensland Origin star and Tigers stalwart Harry Grant whose Kangaroos debut is only a matter of when not if.
However the combination of the two has proved awkward at times, as both players covet a starting role and are not content coming off the bench.
Grant struggled to find his rhythm in the preliminary final in easily his worst game for the Storm for the year and he offers more playing as an 80-minute hooker with time to build into the game to get the best out of his playmaking skills.
Smith is off-contract at the end of 2022 and while he was originally linked to a move to an NRL rival in the Titans, on massive overs, it now appears the Storm are desperate to keep him.
The departure of skipper Dale Finucane to the Sharks has opened up a spot at lock, which could be used to entice Smith to stay and keep Grant happy with both hookers starting next season.
However Smith and star five-eighth Cameron Munster’s alleged involvement in two videos showing footage of a white powder has thrown their futures up in the air.
The NRL and the Storm are investigating the videos, but Craig Bellamy has a history of putting the club ahead of any individual player, so the pair’s futures are uncertain at best.
Munster’s form has been nowhere near his best in 2021 and while he is signed until the end of 2023, he has repeatedly said he is open to returning home to Queensland fpr a massive payday when the new expansion team joins the competition in 2023.
Munster was nearly let go by Bellamy early in his career after an extended period of binge drinking which didn’t fit the standards of the Melbourne club.
Bellamy has axed players for a lot less and the club has grown tired Munster’s off-field antics.
The problem the Storm have is they just let Nicho Hynes join the Sharks, who would have been the ideal five-eighth replacement for Munster if he is moved on.
Hynes was arguably the best fullback in the NRL for most of the early part of the season, while he covered for Ryan Papenhuyzen as he battled concussion issues.
Many experts believe the Storm’s form took a hit when they tried to bring Papenhuyzen back into the team and Hynes’ form dipped as he struggled to adjust to his new role with Papenhuyzen lurking over his shoulder.
Papenhuyzen is signed to the club for the next four seasons, so he is the future for the Storm which is why Bellamy chose to back him, but it still may have contributed to their failed 2021 finals campaign.
Should injuries strike for Papenhuyzen, Munster and Jahrome Hughes next season, Hynes won’t be there to save the Storm and be their “Mr Fix It”.
The club will also miss Finucane’s leadership both on and off the field, with Craig Bellamy often saying he is the first person he picks every week for his commitment and ability to drive standards both at training and in games.
Another huge loss culturally for the side is Josh Addo-Carr, who will be missed as much off the field as he will be for his exploits on it.
The Kangaroos and Blues winger was the speed demon that could create tries out of nothing and is a world class finisher that will be difficult to replace.
The Storm have now lost Marika Koroibete, Suliasi Vunivalu and Addo-Carr in recent seasons and while the addition of Origin player Xavier Coates is timely, The Foxx’s potency and nose for the tryline will be tough to replicate.
Premiership winner Brenko Lee’s defection to the Broncos will also hurt their depth at centre, despite Justin Olam and Reimis Smith having breakout years in 2021.
The Storm also haven’t been overly active in the transfer market and with all due respect the calibre of their 2022 acquisitions they don’t come close to the players they have been forced to let go.
The club have signed Josh King from the Knights until 2023, Nick Meaney from the Bulldogs (2023), Bronson Garlick (2022) and Coates (2023).
Apart from Coates the signings don’t come close to making up for the loss of Finucane, Addo-Carr, Hynes and Lee.
The club also have 13 players who are off-contract in 2022 and free to negotiate with rivals as of November 1 with the club under pressure to keep the nucleus of their side together.
The 2022 off-contract class includes Jesse Bromwich, Felise Kaufusi, Brandon Smith, Reimis Smith, Christian Welch, Thomas Eisenhuth, Jordan Grant, Dean Ieremia, George Jennings, Cooper Johns, Chris Lewis and Isaac Lumelume.
Origin stars Kaufusi and Welch and internationals Bromwich and Smith are crucial signings in order to keep the club competing for titles. The likes of Welch and Bromwich provided much needed leadership and would help fill the void left by Finucane.
The Storm have just 10 players signed long-term including Ryan Papenhuyzen (2025), Jahrome Hughes (2024) and Cameron Munster, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Xavier Coates, Tepai Moeroa, Nick Meaney, Trent Loeiro, Josh King and Tyran Wishart all until 2023.
Harry Grant has an option for 2023, while the club has an option in their favour for 2023 for Tui Kamikamica and Justin Olam.
Clearly the club has work on its hands to keep the bulk of their minor premiership winning team together beyond 2022 and even 2023.
Craig Bellamy is signed until 2026 but is not guaranteed to coach the team passed the 2022 season.
That leaves the club with two years to win another title before Bellamy conceivably hangs up the coaching whistle to take up another role with the club in the background.
While only a fool would write the Storm off from bouncing back and winning the tile next season, their squad on paper is nowhere near as strong.
There are serious doubts they have the depth and quality of players to be able to get the job done and keep their dynasty of title success going.
Every year experts make the mistake of thinking that the Storm’s premiership window has closed or is closing, but year after year Bellamy gets the players up for at least a top four finish.
But the reality is his squad is looking nowhere near as solid as the illegally assembled over the cap team, nor the one that rebounded from missing the 2019 grand final to claim the title in 2020.
The glaring difference from that side is the absence of arguably the greatest player ever in Cameron Smith(*). While the Storm didn’t miss a beat in the regular season on their 19 match winning streak, his composure and calmness was badly missed when it mattered most in the finals.
Despite Smith’s retirement the Storm have two world class hookers on their books in New Zealand international coke fiend Brandon Smith and Queensland Origin star and Tigers stalwart Harry Grant whose Kangaroos debut is only a matter of when not if.
However the combination of the two has proved awkward at times, as both players covet a starting role and are not content coming off the bench.
Grant struggled to find his rhythm in the preliminary final in easily his worst game for the Storm for the year and he offers more playing as an 80-minute hooker with time to build into the game to get the best out of his playmaking skills.
Smith is off-contract at the end of 2022 and while he was originally linked to a move to an NRL rival in the Titans, on massive overs, it now appears the Storm are desperate to keep him.
The departure of skipper Dale Finucane to the Sharks has opened up a spot at lock, which could be used to entice Smith to stay and keep Grant happy with both hookers starting next season.
However Smith and star five-eighth Cameron Munster’s alleged involvement in two videos showing footage of a white powder has thrown their futures up in the air.
The NRL and the Storm are investigating the videos, but Craig Bellamy has a history of putting the club ahead of any individual player, so the pair’s futures are uncertain at best.
Munster’s form has been nowhere near his best in 2021 and while he is signed until the end of 2023, he has repeatedly said he is open to returning home to Queensland fpr a massive payday when the new expansion team joins the competition in 2023.
Munster was nearly let go by Bellamy early in his career after an extended period of binge drinking which didn’t fit the standards of the Melbourne club.
Bellamy has axed players for a lot less and the club has grown tired Munster’s off-field antics.
The problem the Storm have is they just let Nicho Hynes join the Sharks, who would have been the ideal five-eighth replacement for Munster if he is moved on.
Hynes was arguably the best fullback in the NRL for most of the early part of the season, while he covered for Ryan Papenhuyzen as he battled concussion issues.
Many experts believe the Storm’s form took a hit when they tried to bring Papenhuyzen back into the team and Hynes’ form dipped as he struggled to adjust to his new role with Papenhuyzen lurking over his shoulder.
Papenhuyzen is signed to the club for the next four seasons, so he is the future for the Storm which is why Bellamy chose to back him, but it still may have contributed to their failed 2021 finals campaign.
Should injuries strike for Papenhuyzen, Munster and Jahrome Hughes next season, Hynes won’t be there to save the Storm and be their “Mr Fix It”.
The club will also miss Finucane’s leadership both on and off the field, with Craig Bellamy often saying he is the first person he picks every week for his commitment and ability to drive standards both at training and in games.
Another huge loss culturally for the side is Josh Addo-Carr, who will be missed as much off the field as he will be for his exploits on it.
The Kangaroos and Blues winger was the speed demon that could create tries out of nothing and is a world class finisher that will be difficult to replace.
The Storm have now lost Marika Koroibete, Suliasi Vunivalu and Addo-Carr in recent seasons and while the addition of Origin player Xavier Coates is timely, The Foxx’s potency and nose for the tryline will be tough to replicate.
Premiership winner Brenko Lee’s defection to the Broncos will also hurt their depth at centre, despite Justin Olam and Reimis Smith having breakout years in 2021.
The Storm also haven’t been overly active in the transfer market and with all due respect the calibre of their 2022 acquisitions they don’t come close to the players they have been forced to let go.
The club have signed Josh King from the Knights until 2023, Nick Meaney from the Bulldogs (2023), Bronson Garlick (2022) and Coates (2023).
Apart from Coates the signings don’t come close to making up for the loss of Finucane, Addo-Carr, Hynes and Lee.
The club also have 13 players who are off-contract in 2022 and free to negotiate with rivals as of November 1 with the club under pressure to keep the nucleus of their side together.
The 2022 off-contract class includes Jesse Bromwich, Felise Kaufusi, Brandon Smith, Reimis Smith, Christian Welch, Thomas Eisenhuth, Jordan Grant, Dean Ieremia, George Jennings, Cooper Johns, Chris Lewis and Isaac Lumelume.
Origin stars Kaufusi and Welch and internationals Bromwich and Smith are crucial signings in order to keep the club competing for titles. The likes of Welch and Bromwich provided much needed leadership and would help fill the void left by Finucane.
The Storm have just 10 players signed long-term including Ryan Papenhuyzen (2025), Jahrome Hughes (2024) and Cameron Munster, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Xavier Coates, Tepai Moeroa, Nick Meaney, Trent Loeiro, Josh King and Tyran Wishart all until 2023.
Harry Grant has an option for 2023, while the club has an option in their favour for 2023 for Tui Kamikamica and Justin Olam.
Clearly the club has work on its hands to keep the bulk of their minor premiership winning team together beyond 2022 and even 2023.
Craig Bellamy is signed until 2026 but is not guaranteed to coach the team passed the 2022 season.
That leaves the club with two years to win another title before Bellamy conceivably hangs up the coaching whistle to take up another role with the club in the background.
While only a fool would write the Storm off from bouncing back and winning the tile next season, their squad on paper is nowhere near as strong.
There are serious doubts they have the depth and quality of players to be able to get the job done and keep their dynasty of title success going.
