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No Cameron Smith, no problem — the Melbourne Storm have set the NRL on notice within the opening 10 minutes of the season.
One day after the team’s greatest ever player announced he was hanging up the boots, the team he’s left behind has shown they haven’t missed a step.
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Well, coaching mastermind Craig Bellamy is still there with an insane record.
Technically, Bellamy hasn’t lost a round one game in his tenure but the Storm had a bye in round one in 2004 before losing in round two against the Knights while the Rabbitohs have never won in Victoria despite 16 attempts.
Usually the defending champions have also headed to England to play the World Club Challenge as well but the Storm just looked absolutely ready to get back to business.
It took two minutes and two sets for Cameron Munster to announce that he had taken over the side from Smith, fooling everyone with brilliant dummy on the inside before strolling over from 10m out.
While it might not have been the flashiest try ever, it was a monumental score with Munster showing he was ready to take over the leadership of the side.
And it announces the Storm’s intent.
“What a way to start the year,” Andrew Voss said in Fox League commentary. “They used to have a big three, they’re all gone now, and Munster is the new regime at the kings the Melbourne Storm.”
Greg Alexander was flabbergasted by the start of the match.
“Can you believe the start the Melbourne Storm have had to this game? Remarkable,” he said.
But social media was already blowing up with the performance.
AAP’s Scott Bailey tweeted: “That’s the best three-minute opening to a season from a team I’ve ever seen I reckon.”
Former NRL star Jamie Soward was also stunned: “Smith, Cronk, Slater retire from Melbourne … phew Melbourne might drop off.
“Munster, papenhuyzen, Hughes, grant, smith. NOPE. Wow”.
But the Storm weren’t done there, scoring again as Justin Olam scored right next to the post after nine minutes, followed by Ryan Papenhuyzen in the 16th minute.
While it is the first game of the season, it appears the Storm have lost nothing despite Smith’s retirement.
So much so, Voss declared there is a new big three in Melbourne.
“Let me be the first commentator to say that the new big three in Melbourne is Munster, Papenhuyzen and Grant, and two of those are relative rookies,” Voss said. “How good.”
Alexander said: “We’ve moved on already have we? Cameron Smith retired yesterday.”
At half-time, it was 22-6 with Papenhuyzen already with a double.
So at this point, it’s hard to argue.
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