MELBOURNE—Champions Melbourne head into the 2008 NRL season determined to do what no other side has done in more than a decade - win back to back crowns.
Brisbane was the last team to win successive titles, in 1992-93, and they also claimed the 1997 Super League title followed by the combined NRL crown a year later.
But since then the evenness of the competition, helped by the salary cap, has made the feat elusive - a statistic Storm skipper Cameron Smith is well aware of.
But Melbourne believe they have the talent and drive to build on their 34-8 rout of Manly in last year's grand final decider, which came after only losing a miserly three games all season.
"It's been a long time since someone has gone back to back so we're fully aware of what we're up against," he said.
"We thought we had a tough year last year when every team was out to get us, so this year is going to be even harder."
Smith said his teammates made a pact midway through 2006 that they wanted to build the club into a NRL dynasty.
"We spoke about it midway through 2006 that we really want to build a strong team and a strong club here over the next few years," he said.
"We took the right step last year when we won the grand final and we certainly want to continue that."
The salary cap has dented their ambitions, with five players from the premiership line-up departing in the off season.
The most notable was Test centre Matt King, who signed a lucrative three-year with Warrington, as well as mid-season recruit Clint Newton, who was squeezed out and joined English club Hull KR.
Hooker Smith's promising successor James Aubusson also left in search of more playing time with the Sydney Roosters.
Those personnel losses were evident in England last weekend when the Storm suffered an 11-4 loss to Leeds in the World Club Challenge final.
Smith also missed the WCC game for the birth of his first child, his absence also felt and raising concerns the Storm could be severely under-manned during the representative period.
Coach Craig Bellamy concedes his club has lost plenty of experience, but remains pleased with his playing roster heading into 2008.
"They're lacking experience compared to the guys that have gone," Bellamy said.
"We can't get 100 games into them just like that so we're certainly losing some experience there which is going to be hard to replace.
"But we've got some good youngsters coming through and we've also got a lot of others who should improve after playing their first or second year last year."
One of those he tipped to improve was Israel Folau, who had a stunning debut season.
The 18-year-old winger scored a club record 21 tries and then capped the year by becoming Australia's youngest-ever Test player, scoring two tries in the Kangaroos' 58-0 rout of New Zealand.
"He's had a full year in first-grade, which he didn't have at this time last year," said Bellamy.
"There shouldn't be any reason why Israel won't play better than he did last year."
Smith himself also had a year to treasure.
As well as the premiership he was named player of the series in Queensland's State of Origin triumph, took over Melbourne's captaincy, won the Dally M representative player of the year, replaced the injured Darren Lockyer as Test skipper to lead Australia to victory against New Zealand, and was then awarded the Golden Boot - the voted the world's best player.
For the first time he will start the season as skipper.
"It's one of my goals, to try to be successful as a captain for a full season so hopefully we can do what did last year and go all the way again," he said.
"I'm confident the boys are capable of doing it, it's just whether they want to put in the hard work."
Melbourne Storm Factbox
Year entered premiership: 1998
Home ground: Olympic Park.
Premierships: 2 - 1999, 2007
Finishes over the past three years: 2007 - Premiers; 2006 - runner up; 2005 - semi-finals
Coach: Craig Bellamy
Captain: Cameron Smith
Gains: Nil
Losses: Ben Cross (Knights), Matt King (Warrington), James Aubusson (Roosters), Clint Newton (Hull KR), Ryan Shortland (Warriors).
Money Man: Israel Folau. Best teenage talent in the game whose debut season was simply remarkable. Broke the club's tryscoring record, claimed Rookie of the Year honours and won a Test jumper. Big, strong and impossible to stop close to the line.
One to watch: Will Chambers. Direct from the Greg Inglis, Israel Folau production line comes another highly touted young outside back in Chambers. Originally from the Northern Territory, Chambers is built like his predecessors (ie big/strong/fast) and tipped to be equally spectacular.
Best team: Billy Slater, Steve Turner, Will Chambers, Israel Folau, Anthony Quinn, Greg Inglis, Cooper Cronk, Brett White, Cameron Smith, Antonio Kaufusi, Michael Crocker, Ryan Hoffman, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Adam Blair, Jeremy Smith, Jeff Lima, Matt Geyer.
Sheens ready for the worst in 2008
SYDNEY—After two NRL seasons marred by injuries to key players the Wests Tigers are due for a change of luck, but coach Tim Sheens isn't banking on it.
Since their infamous premiership victory in 2005, the Tigers have not made the finals.
Last year they finished ninth, only missing the playoffs on for and against differential, while they were four points outside the eight in 2006.
Star playmaker Benji Marshall and veteran fullback Brett Hodgson missed extended periods in both seasons while Dally M medal runner-up Robbie Farah struggled with a hip injury late last season.
Sheens knows those injuries hurt the Tigers results and acknowledges a truly great season will require his "big three" to be on the park.
But he also knows it's out of his control and has this year moved to boost the squad's depth so, if another crisis does strike, the Tigers will be ready.
"To really have a great season, I need players of Benji's calibre - same as Robbie and Hodgo - I need them fit," Sheens said.
"You look at `05 and we had our people healthy at the right end of the season.
"But having said that it's not cutting wrists time if they're not."
Sheens has brought in reinforcements across the park with new signings including halfback Mathew Head (Hull), winger Nick Youngquest (Penrith) and forward Corey Payne (St George Illawarra).
"I'm a little better covered in the event of any issues so I'm a little bit more comfortable with that than I was this time last year," Sheens said.
"Whenever we've had Benji out we've struggled a bit but I've covered that with Head to a degree.
"John (Morris) can play five-eighth, as he has plenty of times, and Head can come in or I've got a couple of others as in Tim Moltzen, who played Junior Kangaroos last year.
"We have a bit of depth in crucial positions which gives me a little bit more comfort."
Ultimate comfort for Sheens would come from seeing a fit Marshall stay on the park all season.
The Kiwi international's past two seasons have been savaged by shoulder troubles, and he has now undergone surgery five times.
But the Tigers are by no means a "one-man team", Sheens stresses.
"I'm very hopeful Benji has a really good season, with plenty of games but I can't do anything about it if it doesn't happen," Sheens said.
"The side is capable of winning games without him.
"Last year we lost him in the Melbourne game early and without him and Brett Hodgson, who didn't play, we beat Melbourne at Central Coast very well.
"He could play all year and have an outstanding season and we still not get there (the finals) - everyone has to do their job and we're not a one-man team, not by a long shot."
Sheens said he was looking forward this season to seeing his young players benefit from the experience of the past couple of seasons together.
"We've been together for a few years now with this young side as I've replaced the older players that have left the `05 side," Sheens said.
"They're now starting to play some good football together."
Top of the class of youngsters is 19-year-old centre Chris Lawrence.
After making his first grade debut in 2006, Lawrence burst onto the scene last year, scoring 16 tries in 18 appearances.
Sheens said he expected nothing from young players such as Lawrence except "to do their job" this season but said he had called on his "experienced" group of young twenty-somethings, including Farah, Liam Fulton and Dean Collis to take on more leadership this season.
Farah, who narrowly missed out on the Dally M medal behind Johnathan Thurston last season, is expected to push NSW rival Danny Buderus for the NSW No.9 jersey this year.
But his coach said he should focus on club football before representative honours this season.
"My attitude to Robbie is: play well yourself and what happens happens.
"Everyone's got to earn the right to take that NSW jumper and it's not going to be handed to him knowing Buderus.
"It just comes down to the week in week out form."
West Tigers Factbox
Year entered premiership: 2000 (joint venture from Western Suburbs 1908 and Balmain 1908)
Home grounds: Leichhardt Oval, Campbelltown Sports Stadium, ANZ Stadium.
Premierships: 1 - 2005
Finishes over the past three years: 2007 - 9th; 2006 - 11th; 2005 - Premiers
Coach: Tim Sheens
Captain: Brett Hodgson
Gains: Corey Payne, Mathew Head (Hull), Todd Bridge (Taree), Nick Youngquest (Penrith), Linton Price, Benson Tupou and Noah Fotu (Leeton)
Losses: Ben Jeffrey (Gold Coast), Jason Moodie (retired), Paul Whatuira (Huddersfield), Ben Galea and Daniel Fitzhenry (both Hull), Jarrod Saffy (Dragons)
Money Man: Benji Marshall. One of the game's most gifted and natural playmakers. The Tigers' premiership aspirations hinge on him staying on the park and avoiding the shoulder problems that have savaged his past couple of seasons.
One to watch: Chris Lawrence. The teenage sensation is one of the most exciting young talents in the NRL. Fast, strong and versatile and boasts a lethal strike rate, scoring 16 tries in his 18 appearances last season.
Best team: Brett Hodgson, Nick Youngquest, Dean Collis, Chris Lawrence, Taniela Tuiaki, Benji Marshall, John Morris, Todd Payten, Robbie Farah, Keith Galloway, Danny Galea, Chris Heighington, Liam Fulton. Interchange: Dean Halatau, Bronson Harrison, Bryce Gibbs, Corey Payne.
Feeds