BY CURTIS WOODWARD

Melbourne Storm
Coach: Craig Bellamy
Pre-season: Auckland Nines February 4th and 5th, v Warriors February 11th, v Bulldogs February 18th

 
What they’ll get right: No team prepares like the Melbourne Storm. They are clinical in everything they do. They have evolved with the times and play a prettier style of footy than what we once thought the Melbourne juggernaut was all about. Who says Billy Slater won’t be as good as he once was? Who says Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk have to come back to the pack?

What they’ll get wrong: Cameron Munster could play prop and probably impress so Craig Bellamy won’t be worried about slotting him in at five-eigth. The question is, how much difference does the absence of Blake Green make to the team?

It’s a big year for: It’s make or break for Billy Slater. The legendary fullback will know after the Storm’s Hobart trial against Canterbury whether his career continues. Let’s hope that’s the case.

 
Most improved: Nelson Asofa-Solomona
MVP: Cameron Smith
Most consistent: Cooper Cronk

Boys out on Gosch's Paddock for a gruelling session, beating the heat! 💪☀️ #purplepride pic.twitter.com/f5IFBIN64a

— Melbourne Storm (@storm) January 6, 2017

Prediction – 2nd
Let’s give the annual Melbourne pre-season death ride a rest – they deserve to be considered a premiership force for as long as they choose to be.

Off and running in 2017! 💪⚡️ #purplepride pic.twitter.com/gplu4shDtw

— Melbourne Storm (@storm) January 4, 2017

Possible team:
1 Billy Slater
2 Suliasi Vunivalu
3 Will Chambers
4 Curtis Scott
5 Cheyse Blair
6 Cameron Munster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmr5aOuTgaQ

7 Cooper Cronk
8 Jesse Bromwich
9 Cameron Smith
10 Jordan McLean
11 Tohu Harris
12 Kenny Bromwich
13 Dale Finucane

14 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
15 Felise Kaufusi
16 Christian Welch
17 Tim Glasby

@woodward_curtis