MELBOURNE

Matt King got it wrong last year when he called grand final referee Paul Simpkins a “dickhead” on the Storm’s Mad Monday. That said, Simpkins had done a good impersonation of one the previous night. Yes, the Broncos deserved their 15-8 victory and, yes, Melbourne had been as nervous as a virgin on prom night. Yet it’s inescapable: if not for two botched decisions and a disallowed King try, the club could still be celebrating Mad Monday.

The Storm owned ’06: minor premiers; Dally M player, coach, hooker and halfback of the year; record winning streak; record winning streak at home; record crowds …

In an ever-capricious competition, they’re laurels worth resting on this season. So are internationals Billy Slater and Cameron Smith. So is coach Craig Bellamy, widely considered the NRL’s smartest coach. So is Greg Inglis (RIGHT), a league lover’s wet dream.

Inglis has been tipped to be the Storm’s five-eighth this year, but we’re not buying it. No, the Storm’s hopes really rest with an unknown: Russell Aitken. The 21-year-old – who was a schoolboy standout – trained during the summer with Matt Johns. Sound familiar? Similarly, Johns – who in the warmer months ditches his Reg Regan moustache for intense individual sessions with emerging talent – worked with halfback Cooper Cronk before the ’06 season. This time last year, Cronk was dismissed, but finished the season as the Dally M halfback. Johns is believed to be equally impressed with Aitken.

The Storm may struggle for relevance in its AFL-saturated market, but they weren’t concerned about winning Mexican hearts and minds as they shredded through the NRL last season. This year won’t be any different. Besides, atonement is motivation enough.

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