Is This The End Of The Melbourne Storm Dynasty?

It's been a topic of discussion every offseason for the best part of five years, but is this finally the end of the Storm dynasty? 

It's the end as we know it. That much can't be denied. Cooper Cronk has been gone 12 months and Billy Slater is walking into the sunset right now. Whatever team runs out in 2019 isn't the team full of all-time greats we've come to expect for more than a decade. 

While the Storm have bounced back every year the 'experts' thought they were done, this might be the year they take a tumble.

What Went Wrong In 2018?

Most clubs would celebrate making it to the Grand Final despite losing the decider, but not the Storm. 

At no point in 2018 did they look themselves. 

Vulnerable and three or four steps behind the 2017 version, the Storm weren't the behemoth we've come to love and hate (depending on which side of the fence you sit on). 

While they managed to improve throughout the season, the Storm finished fourth in errors with 10.7 per game (up from 13th/9.7 in 2017) while leading the NRL with an uncharacteristic 4.3 handling errors per game (up from 14th/3.3 in 2017).

The Storm averaged 10.9 errors heading into tonights match, and they had 15. The Roosters averaged 10.7 heading into tonight, and they had 6. As close to a perfect game as you could find

— Clear the Obstruction (@CTObstruction) September 30, 2018

With the regularity at which they were coughing up the football, the Storm's attack spluttered in comparison to last season.

They didn't ask the same questions in attack with their line engaged runs dropping from 19.5 (1st, 2017) to just 11.1 (11th, 2018).

As a result, their league-leading 5.7 line breaks and 26.4 points per game in 2017 dropped to 3.6 line breaks and 21.9 points per game this season.

There was a moment between Round 6 and 8 where it appeared as though the beast had awakened. However, the attack soon went back to sleep as the Storm relied on their defence and experience to get them through to the last weekend of September.

What Now For The Spine?

The turnover in faces in key playmaking positions didn't help in 2018 and is unlikely to be much different in 2019. 

Expected to be "the next Cronk", Brodie Croft was punted from the number seven jersey for Ryley Jacks after Round 5 as the Storm spine struggled to gel and develop the chemistry of 2017. 

Jacks' time soon ran out with Jahrome Hughes jumping between fullback and halfback during the Origin period before Croft eventually carved out his place in the team right through to the Grand Final. 

With how he ended the season, it's safe to assume Croft starts the season in the halves.

Just who and where anybody else plays in the spine is somewhat unknown.

That's what gives weight to the idea this might be the end of the dream run.

Cameron Smith is a future immortal and still the second-best hooker in the NRL at worst. However, he's yet to put pen to paper with the club. If he does re-sign, father time will have something to say about a bloke turning 36 during the season no matter how many Dally M medal's hang around his neck.

Should he join Slater in retirement, the Storm will need to learn how to function without their most influential figure. Smith has played in over half of the 559 games in the clubs history. He's the face of the club and will be regarded as their greatest ever player for as long as our memory serves. Brandon Smith is a handy replacement, but he won't come close to filling the gaping hole left by his captain.

Cameron Munster is one of the best talents in the game, but just where he plays his best footy is up for debate.

He's an Origin and Kangaroo's five-eighth right now but shift him to fullback and he will instantly install himself as one of the best custodians in the NRL.

Then there's Hughes.

He needs to be playing first-grade football. If he's not getting it at the Storm next year, there's a good chance he leaves to find it elsewhere. A great fullback and serviceable half, Hughes can slot in anywhere but it's another balancing act.

The same goes for Scott Drinkwater. He's travelling down a similar path to Hughes and when they intersect, it's likely only one finds regular game time.

Finding the best fit may take some time, and with a 36th birthday being celebrated in June next year, Smith won't be interested in spending a season tinkering with combinations.

So, Is It The End?

It would take a brave man to announce the end of the Storm dynasty in October. Many have already claimed it's impending demise only to be proven wrong 12 months later. 

Craig Bellamy is a master coach and will be able to get the best out of whatever he has. If Smith is still there, you'd struggle to argue they won't be sniffing around the premiership again in 2019. 

In fact, a look at their Grand Final history following a loss trends toward another premiership more than an end of an era.

Smith is the key here. 

If he's there, the Storm are a premiership contender. He's still got it, and as we saw in the late stages of their Round 17 game against the Dragons, Smith can still take a game by the scruff of the neck and drag his team to victory. 

If he's not there, things get interesting. 

Most sides don't have the luxury of three all-time greats playing alongside each other for over a decade. Likewise, there aren't any obvious examples of a club keeping up that level of play once they finally leave. 

The assumption is Smith plays for another year to become the first player to record 400 first-grade games. 

With only one of the 'Big 3' remaining, it's undoubtedly the end of an era. But with Smith there ushering in the next, we can expect the Storm to go close to the premiership again in 2019.

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