When Melbourne posted 70 points on the New Zealand Warriors during Anzac Day, or the week after when they made it seem as if they were playing a different sport entirely to the Newcastle Knights, many could have been forgiven for beginning to accept the inevitable.
The Storm had come back stronger from their preliminary final defeat the previous year and were now set to smash point-scoring records on the way to yet another premiership triumph. Although they did make it into the history books, a few months later everything is decidedly less rosy than it once appeared.
Melbourne's early season form is now a distant memory
When Melbourne makes the trip up to Sydney to face the Rabbitohs this weekend, they will be attempting to avoid a four-game losing streak that has many critics second-guessing their title credentials.
Without their talisman Ryan Papenhuyzen - who suffered a sickening knee injury during the Storm’s loss to Canberra - along with a host of other players who are also in the casualty ward, it is clear the side are struggling.
It’s at times like this, during the arduous slog of a campaign, you can forget how easy Melbourne were making it look at one stage, as they were installed as early premiership favourites.
After losing to Parramatta in round three, the club went on a rampage racking up 270 points across their next six games. Their attack was scintillating with opponents having no answers for Jahrome Hughes, Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Papenhuyzen.
Prior to the aforementioned match against the Raiders, that first choice spine hadn’t played together since round 9 which, incidentally, was when their scoring exploits began to dry up.
The combinations the quartet built will now have to be packed away and forgotten about for the rest of the year, with the news of Papenhuyzen’s season-ending injury.
But are Melbourne's premiership hopes extinguished solely because of their stricken No.1, or can they mount a challenge regardless?
Lessons to be learnt for the Storm
Consecutive losses against the Cowboys and Panthers midway through the season had Craig Bellamy questioning if his team was really all it was cracked up to be. The coach certainly would have enjoyed their response when they rebounded to the losses with three wins on the trot.
However, they have hit the skids.
Under Bellamy's stewardship this type of losing streak isn't exactly classified as uncharted territory, but it is rapidly approaching it. Only once have the Storm lost five games in a row under Bellamy, but this suddenly seems a very real possibility.
The main worry though may be that having navigated through the representative period and being able to call on Papenhuyzen again, this latest setback could mean they're unable to pick themselves up off the canvas.
MORE: Craig Bellamy 'concerned' after the Storm suffer heavy loss to Penrith
Melbourne can actually take comfort in the experiences of this week’s opponent, South Sydney, and how they fared once their fullback was ruled out last season.
Latrell Mitchell received a massive ban for his illegal hit on Joey Manu which left the Kiwi star nursing a facial fracture.
As soon as the findings were handed down by the judiciary, critics had whipped out their red pens and drawn a line through Wayne Bennett’s chargers.
Yet they defied the odds and made it all the way to the grand final where they lost in a tight contest to Penrith.
This is why it would be unwise to write-off Melbourne quite so quickly- they can still call on the considerable talents of Munster, Hughes and Grant.
Papenhuyzen undoubtedly takes them to another level with his pace around the ruck and ability to provide world class support play, but their offence is still potent with Grant scheming out of dummy-half and Hughes providing the platform in which Munster can create from.
Melbourne's defence to blame?
Melbourne's recent form can’t just be cast aside though. Six teams have conceded less than them in the past six games, while eight have scored more than them.
There is no escaping the fact the Melbourne Storm are distinctly average at the moment.
“When you look at stats alone over the last three games their stats are okay,” Cameron Smith argued on SEN.
“Their completion rates are quite high, their running metres are good and they’re doing the right things with the football.
“I just don’t think their defence is up to scratch.
“It’s not the typical Melbourne Storm where they’re usually, and have been for a long time, a very hard side to score against.
“There are way too many points being conceded by Melbourne.”
The Storm haven’t kept a team to 20 points or under since they achieved this against the Roosters in round 14.
They conceded 20 points or more just three times up until that juncture in the season, but have done so for four games in a row since.
The vast injuries to their backline could shoulder a lot of the blame for this, with Xavier Coates, Reimis Smith and George Jennings all being ruled out long-term.
Evidently, Papenhuyzen’s prior absence at fullback impacted on not only their ability to post points but also their organisation within the defensive line as well.
Melbourne can still pose a premiership threat
Now that Papenhuyzen has been ruled out for the season, it will be up to Nick Meaney to try and take up the defensive slack, while providing contributions in attack.
Once again, the Storm can look to a rival to see how it is possible to win without your influential fullback.
Manly have adjusted since losing last year's Dally M medalist Tom Trbojevic in round 11. Their over-reliance on him in offence has been tempered with a greater focus on the team.
The Sea Eagles are currently riding a wave of momentum having registered 178 points across their past five games for four victories.
Reuben Garrick has transitioned brilliantly to his role at the back and is the perfect example for Meaney to follow in not over-playing his hand.
After 18 rounds of action, Melbourne still loom as the biggest threat to the Panthers of going back-to-back.
Their point-scoring ability is second only to Penrith, while their spine is still mightily impressive with Munster likely taking on even more responsibility in the future.
They also boast the vital ingredient many other challengers this season don't; premiership experience.
The Storm have been significantly weakened through the loss of their No.1, but that doesn't mean they can be counted out just yet. After all, as Munster and Grant have shown before when playing for Queensland, they love nothing more than possessing that underdog tag.
