The Melbourne Storm may well be the best sporting club in Australia – they have created a culture of success that has survived unbelievable adversity.
They lost a Grand Final 40-0 in 2008, but rather than let that tear down the club’s culture, they went again and won the 2009 Grand Final.
The Storm were then ripped apart by a salary cap scandal bigger then anything the league has ever seen before. They lost a huge chuck of their playing group including some of the games biggest names in Greg Inglis, Ryan Hoffman and many more.
But before we knew it they were back in the Grand Final picture again and vying for premierships. And they could be set to add their fourth piece of silverware this Sunday, so claim your bet365 referral code for all the best NRL markets, including the 2020 Grand Final.
After another period of success the Storm faced another blow when star half-back Cooper Cronk left the club and went to the Sydney Roosters.
Most clubs would need to rebuild after such a loss, however not the Storm. They didn’t blink an eye and haven’t slipped in the slightest. Not even the retirement of the games greatest ever full-back Billy Slater could slow down the Storm train.
This culture has been led by coach Craig Bellamy and he’s loyal captain Cameron Smith. It’s a culture that has allowed the Storm to get so far in the 2020 season despite being away from home for most of the campaign.
Only the New Zealand Warriors have faced similar challenges this season and they didn’t handle it well at all, meanwhile the Storm have carried on as business per usual.
Cameron Smith may hang up the boots after this year’s decider, although he has made no announcement or even hinted at the idea this will be his farewell. Smith deserves to bow out a champion after all he has done in the game.
He along with super coach Craig Bellamy have done so much work at the Storm to ensure the club’s success carries on past their time at the club. Which may be right around the corner, with Bellamy also rumoured to be considering departing the Storm in the near future.
The Storm have been unreal in 2020 and a dominant force for nearly two decades as a regular fixture in the late stages of the NRL season. The guidance of Bellamy in their achievements can’t be understated, there’s a reason the Broncos are reportedly chasing him on big money.
The Storm are a champion club, led by champion people in Smith and Bellamy. If this is how it ends, the 2020 premiership would be the ultimate way to cap off the Smith/Bellamy era.
