Control the football, don’t cough it up, win the game. It is a simple philosophy that is working well for the Storm in 2016.
Melbourne’s clean work with the football was crucial in Saturday night’s Qualifying final win over the Cowboys.
Craig Bellamy’s side completed 33 of 37 sets, a completion rate of 89%, while committing just four errors in 80-minutes of frantic football.
Being clean with the football has had a significant bearing on the side’s ability to win games this year.
Four of the Melbourne’s five losses have come when the completion rate has slipped below 80%.
On the flip side their 20 wins have come by completing an average of 83% of their sets.
Three times this year Storm have finished with a completion rate above 90%, including Round 26 against the Sharks, in a clinical performance that clinched the 2016 Minor Premiership.
Storm have also committed the least amount errors in the NRL this season – 16 fewer than any other team at an average of less than eight per game.
It is the third straight season Storm have been ranked in the top three for fewest errors made.
Make the other team beat you, don’t beat yourself.
It is a philosophy that has so far worked for the men in purple and will hold them in good stead heading into a home preliminary final in two weeks time.
