Craig Bellamy needs to reinvent the Storm – and fast

Melbourne have lost four in a row, which means something has to change.

Craig Bellamy said it after they lost to the Warriors last week: it’s not just up to the players to make it happen, it’s up to the coaching staff, too – and that includes himself.

The truth is, teams are taking advantage of Melbourne’s less experienced players, especially on their edges, where their defence has been poor.

Outside back Moses Leo (who is now on the bench) is still adjusting after coming across from rugby union, while edge forwards Cooper Clarke and Joe Chan are still getting used to week in week out footy.

The other thing they’re missing is their big men up front. Nelson Asofa-Solomona has gone to boxing, while Tui Kamikamica is recovering after having a stroke, and we don’t know when he’ll return for Melbourne. But the player Melbourne are missing the most is Eli Katoa on the right edge, and there’s no certainty around when, or if, he’ll be back playing footy.

Katoa is a try-scorer. He chases kicks, scores off bombs and takes pressure off Jahrome Hughes, so they’re really struggling for that go-forward at the ruck, and that’s all new for Harry Grant, Cameron Munster and Hughes.

They’ve got to look at their own game and tweak the way they’re playing until they get the big men back.

In the games they have lost, their opposition has played very well. Brisbane were sensational when they beat them in Melbourne. They got beaten by Penrith which, as I’ve said before, was the best performance I’ve ever seen by a team, and then they lost to the Warriors.

I don’t think any team could have beaten the Warriors last week – they were on fire.

The question is, can Melbourne turn it around?

In short, yes, but I don’t think they’re winning the competition and I don’t think they’ll make the top four.

They need to tweak their attack if they want to start winning games, and the new six again rule has really affected the Storm, particularly their defence. They now have less control of the ruck, which is challenging for a team and a system that’s done it better than anyone else for the past 15 years.

If anyone can reinvent this team, it’s Bellamy, but the Origin period is coming up, and they’ll have to see how Grant and Munster pull up after playing for Queensland.

Marshall has the Tigers humming

Benji Marshall has done a great job with the Tigers, and now they’re equal top of the ladder with Penrith after six rounds.

The Tigers are playing with confidence and belief, and they’re playing with the freedom of a team that isn’t afraid to make an error.

They’ve had a lot of luck with injuries, too. The only player they’ve really been missing is Jarome Luai, and he’s back this week anyway, while Taylan May is also close to a return.

But if you look at their spine, their key players have been sensational: Adam Doueihi, Jock Madden, Jahream Bula and Api Koroisau.

They actually look happy on the field, and their high energy has them flying as they head into another sold-out home game at Campbelltown this Saturday against the Broncos.

Brisbane are missing plenty of players through injury and suspension – Pat Carrigan, Reece Walsh, Ben Hunter, Cory Paix to name a few – so I’m tipping a big win for the Tigers again.

I think they’re a huge chance of making the eight.

The other team that’s humming is the Cowboys. They’ve also had a good run with injury, with Jeremiah Nanai their main concern, but I’ve been really impressed with their middle forwards: Coen Hess, Jason Taumalolo and Reuben Cotter.

Fullback Scott Drinkwater has also been firing. He pulls the trigger as soon as he sees an opportunity. Really, he’s their halfback. He’s got a bit of James Maloney about him – if he makes an error, he couldn’t care less. If the Dragons are able to sign him, I think he’d be a great buy for the Red V.

The emergence of Jaxon Purdue this year has also been great for the club. He nails the half-chances, and the try he scored against Brisbane last week was pretty special.

Crucially, the Cowboys are winning the close games. Warren Ryan used to say to me, in a 24-round competition, you budget to win eight, lose eight and then the other eight games are the tight ones that decide where you finish on the table.

The Cowboys are playing with great passion, and I think they’ll be winning again when they play Manly at home on Thursday.

Then, we have the Warriors. Is this their year to win the competition?

I think they’re a top-four team, and with some luck with injuries, I think they’re a huge chance. I reckon they’ve finally got their junior pathways sorted, and some of their young players coming through – Taine Tuaupiki, Leka Halasima, Jacob Laban – are just tearaway power athletes.

They’re playing like a top-four team, with limited errors, a high completion rate, and they’re doing the basics really well. They’ve also found that crucial balance in their forward pack – between the workers and explosive players.

They have huge support in New Zealand – pretty much every home game is a sellout – and, crucially, the Origin period won’t have as much of an impact on them as other teams. Throw Luke Metcalf in the mix when he comes back from a hamstring injury, and I think the Warriors will be playing some of their best football midyear.

Are the Eels set for the wooden spoon?

I really feel for Jason Ryles and the Eels. They’re missing 12 of their top 30 squad and that makes it nearly impossible for them to win. But it doesn’t make it impossible to compete.

They gave up against the Titans last weekend and Ryles knew it, which is why he gave them a massive spray. Normally, it’s praise in public and criticise in private. But you’ve probably got one or two public sprays in the year, and Ryles just used one of them up.

It just goes to show how disappointed he was.

The main issue with their injuries is that they’re missing two of their crucial spine players: Jonah Pezet in the halves and Isaiah Iongi at fullback. Throw in the injury to J’maine Hopgood, who is that ball-playing middle forward that plays like a halfback, and it makes things very difficult for Parramatta.

Unless they get troops back, I can’t see them winning any of their next five games, which are against the Bulldogs, Sea Eagles, Warriors, Cowboys and Storm.

With the way Parramatta finished last year, I thought they were an outside chance of sneaking into the eight this year. Now, they’re no chance.

These next few weeks will be a massive challenge for halfback Mitchell Moses – he’s going to have to carry this team.

Bulldogs provided blueprint for how to beat Penrith

I think the Dolphins are a big chance of upsetting Penrith in Darwin on Friday night.

The Panthers are missing Casey McLean on their left edge and Liam Martin on their right, and that will really affect the team, which has a flow-on effect on the bench.

I think the Dolphins’ bench is way stronger with Thomas Flegler, Ray Stone and Francis Molo, and playing up there in Darwin I think you’re going to have to use more of your bench with the heat and humidity. And the Dolphins are coming off the bye, so they’ll be fresh.

They’re huge outsiders, but I give them a massive chance, and I think the Bulldogs last week showed other teams the blueprint for how to beat them: by getting in their face and rushing Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo.

Joey’s tip: Dolphins by 2
First try-scorer: Isaiya Katoa
Man of the match: Isaiya Katoa