It is a familiar challenge Storm have become accustomed to facing at this time of the year.
The Club will head into Saturday night’s clash against the Dragons without captain Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk, with the experienced duo in camp with Queensland.
Be at AAMI Park when we take on the Tigers, Sunday 26 June, 4pm.
Currently sitting first on the NRL ladder, Storm have shown so far this season that they are a team greater than any one individual.
Saturday night presents a golden opportunity to prove that once again.
“It is always a challenge but having said that we think we are probably in a better position now than the last few years,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.
“We’ve worked really hard in the last couple years to develop who we see as our next leaders.
“Hopefully as they get a little bit better at that and used to that, they’ll help the team when those other players aren’t playing with us. It is a good test for us as a group this week.”
The playing group is spending the week at a training camp Kiama to prepare for the game.
After enduring the tough grind that comes with the start of the NRL season, the Storm mentor sees the time away as the perfect chance for his troops to freshen up the mind for the weeks ahead.
“It is a little thing we do each year, giving the players a bit of a break from routine down in Melbourne,” Bellamy said.
“Usually the Origin players are away… we just think that since it is mid-year it is a good time for a break and we stay somewhere close to where we are playing the next week.
“The boys get some more time to themselves, it freshens them up a bit, hopefully it can tighten the group up a little bit as well.”
Storm will look to improve on their 11-2 record when they face the Dragons at WIN Stadium on Saturday night at 7.30pm.
