LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The Storm has slipped from being NRL premiership favorites following a rough outing in Brisbane.
Star halfback Jahrome Hughes is dealing with a suspected broken arm, and enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona may face another suspension. However, it is the team's defense that has coach Craig Bellamy feeling "pissed off" just before the finals.
Despite having already secured second place, the Storm returns home battered, with Hughes' availability for the remainder of the season now in serious doubt after injuring his arm during a tackle in his first match back from a dislocated shoulder.
Although there are options to fill in for Hughes, Bellamy's primary concern is the team's defensive performance. The Storm suffered a 30-14 loss to the Broncos, marking 70 points conceded over the last two matches after a stark 40-10 defeat to the Roosters at home.
This marks their poorest defensive stretch in two games since 2005, when they allowed 77 points in rounds 21 and 22. Previously, they conceded 70 points in 2006 and 69 points in 2013, but rebounded with a strong scoring performance the following week.
Typically, top defensive teams claim the premiership, and Bellamy has noted several alarming trends just one week before the finals. "(I'm) pissed off at a few things," he said.