MELBOURNE

Let’s assume Cameron Smith and the Melbourne Storm come to a deal before the kick-off of the 2019 season.  Having already lost legendary veterans Billy Slater and Ryan Hoffman, Melbourne will need the guidance and experience of Smith, not to mention his freakish scoring ability.  Smith could become the first player to play 400 first grade games if he re-signs.

Melbourne have lost Queensland Origin prop Tim Glasby to Newcastle, and reliable five-eighth Ryley Jacks to Gold Coast.  However, a team that has made the last three Grand Finals doesn’t have a great need to restock.  Wingers Josh Addo-Carr and Suliasi Vunivalu scored 33 tries between them in 2018, and remain one of the competition’s great strike partnerships.

Curtis Scott improves with every outing and can’t be far away from a rep jumper.  Cameron Munster’s re-signing will prove very important to the club, while Brodie Croft and Jahrome Hughes continue to show promise.

Up front, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Jesse Bromwich, Kenny Bromwich, Christian Welch, Felise Kaufusi, and Dale Finucane won’t make life easy for opposition forward packs.  With the retirement of Slater and Hoffman, there will be more responsibility on test centre Will Chambers, but he should relish the opportunity.

Coach Craig Bellamy is perhaps still the best weapon in Melbourne’s arsenal.  He has after all taken the club to eight Grand Finals in thirteen seasons.

You can read more about the history of the Melbourne Storm here.

You can also read more about Craig Bellamy, and other champion coaches here.