Given what is at stake, Storm are well aware they need to take it up a notch this weekend.
Melbourne will face Cronulla in a play off for the minor premiership this Saturday night with a big crowd expected to turn out at AAMI Park.
Be at AAMI Park when we take on the Sharks, Saturday 3 September, 7:30pm.
Five-eighth Blake Green pointed to a lack of energy as a factor behind recent losses to the Raiders and Broncos.
The playing group has made a focus of making sure that does not trickle into this weekend’s performance against the Sharks.
“Our focus that we need to address is on our energy and on us as a team and sticking to our game plan,” Green said.
“We were quite flat when we played the Raiders a couple of weeks ago, then we had a short turnaround and played with a heap of energy against Manly, then we probably went back to that performance against the Raiders on the weekend.
“It is something that Craig spoke about and it’s something we need to address if we are going to be a threat in this competition.”
Storm conceded early tries in both of those games and can ill-afford to do the same against a Cronulla side that is on its way to recording its best finish to a season since 1999.
The Sharks boast the second best attack in the competition, led by their newly recruited halves pairing of James Maloney and Chad Townsend.
Maloney in particular has been a key factor behind their stellar season and Storm are well aware how important the battle of the halves will be come Saturday night.
“He (Maloney) has been very good, he’s certainly added a lot of structure to their team,” Green said.
“He plays very controlled with a great kicking game. Both him and Chad Townsend have been good and added a new dimension to their style of play.
“It is always good fun coming up against quality opposition so Saturday night should be a good test.”
Storm take on the Sharks at 7.30pm this Saturday night at AAMI Park.
