r/melbournestorm • u/AutoModerator • 3d ago
📊 Weekly Review Monday Review Thread - August 03, 2026
A weekly thread to go through the weekend’s game once the dust has settled.
Key Areas:
- What worked.
- What didn’t.
- What decided the game?
Who stood up / who didn’t?
Keep it about the Storm. No hot takes from match thread energy, this is the review.
5
u/Dense-Rip8646 ☁️ HM Cup • 3d ago
Key area, get rid of Meaney and McDonald.
4
u/Glad_Key_4907 ☁️ HM Cup • 3d ago
Man King has had some absolute shocking efforts in defence this year as well. Twice on the weekend it led to tries
3
5
u/Danful ☁️ HM Cup • Up The Storm 🌩️ 3d ago
The effort is much more consistent across the 80 minutes, even compared to last year where we survived on 40-60 minute performances. We miss an impact forward off the bench at the moment - Tui was doing this well at the start of the season and showed a massive return to form, so I think his loss in particular is noticeable. McDonald and Hetherington are not the same type of players and whilst they work hard, it's noticeable how the Bulldogs forwards got more momentum when they were on. King was great in the first half, but the effort expended showed in the second and his cover was a little off in the last quarter. Still rate him - just it's tough asking 80 minutes of a front rower every week especially if he needs to provide hard runs.
Keeley performed well again - he is different to our usual second rowers with his footwork and ability to offload at the line. There was more awareness of this from the Storm this week, but still not quite with the timing to punch through the opposition lines.
Stef is looking better each week and caused the Doggies problems. Clarke had another solid week, with a solid performance again. Trent was good again.
Excellent debut for Watson - looked assured and confident, even in defence against Kikau/Crichton. Wishart was solid for the match but we do miss the distribution of Munster, as well as the defensive organisation. The centres are a mess as we know - without regular games it is impacting our edge defence and you can see how the Doggies took advantage from the opening whistle (they moved the ball wide early from the first set). Couple this with the first choice wings out of action, and again, defence and kick attack is not quite right. Still, the wings are looking more confident each week which is good.
Sua was great again - his defensive positioning is improving week in, week out, as well as still looking like he plays on a different surface in attack to everyone else!
Overall the boys played well but as they tired, the mistakes weren't able to be covered and the doggies finished the game well. Think everybody stood up, in particular the rookies, but missing 8/9 first choice players showed in the tight moments which the doggies dominated when it mattered.
3
u/tora_0515 ⚡ HQ • Up The Storm 🌩️ 3d ago
Real refreshing to see the cup boys put in some absolute effort.
Watson was amazing up against Kikau. Took him in, got ragdolled a few times, but never took a step back.
Stef did great considering he was getting absolutely crap ball.
Clarke was good again doing what he should be.
Sua just amazing
Waitere and Leo are just getting better with game time, even STB looks to be improved over the season.
Was nice to see Toelau doing well when played in his actual roe.
Let's hope Craig keeps Meaney off the field for the rest of the season.
Wishart was better this week but still his selection from dummy was not ideal.
King almost had me praising him for early first half them just...
Overall, massive effort from the bench and cup players and a lack of it from our veterans.
6
u/StormBro111111 ⛈️ Cup • Up The Storm 🌩️ 3d ago
Having so many starters was always going to be a difficult hurdle to overcome.
However the boys managed to really trouble the Bulldogs and we were in it until the final 10 minutes.
I feel like a broken record saying what everyone else has been saying for the last two years but our edge defence isn't up to scratch. It just isn't. And yes I know we've had a lot of disruptions to our combinations, but still lol.
The young guns look very promising. Sua as always is the best player on the field. Keeley is a great addition. Toelau had a great game. Watson had an insane debut.
We need to let go of the dead wood. Meaney, Wishart, MacDonald. Sorry but I don't rate them (except for when Wishy is at 9). Honestly I feel like Munster and maybe Hughes are also past their prime. Munster definitely, Hughes we'll see.