Just so we can validate this point at a later date, which are the players Melbourne have left behind in order for them to be fit for Round 1 in the NRL?

More to the point they are missing 5 players from their GF winning side. 4 of which have left the club.

Quinn is now available who would have been in the GF side had he been fit.

Now they have added new players including this over hyped future star of Widdup, who is here for Sunday.

Where is the half of team missing?

Starter for one Cooper Cronk

Yes, I knew about Cronk being unavailable for the WCC. We'll have to wait and see if he's back on the paddock in Round 1 also at this point.

Next?

Brett White - this could go on a while

You would be making players up if it did.

Quote Serge A. Storms="Serge A. Storms"Brett White - this could go on a while'" Why are we drip feeding the names one by one? Just name them alltogether. It'll be easier that way. Brett White doesn't sound hopeful of making Round 1 of the NRL season here: www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/m ... public_rss

Quote Serge A. Storms="Serge A. Storms"Brett White - this could go on a while'" Why are we drip feeding the names one by one? Just name them alltogether. It'll be easier that way. Brett White doesn't sound hopeful of making Round 1 of the NRL season here: www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/m ... public_rss

If Eastwood is only bothered about the money then his attitude is wrong. Back to the attitude of the 80s.

The more I hear the more disillusioned I get with the current state of the club.

Quote tvoc="tvoc"Why are we drip feeding the names one by one? Just name them alltogether. It'll be easier that way. Brett White doesn't sound hopeful of making Round 1 of the NRL season here: www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/m ... public_rss'" Sika Manu? Hopefully the "big three" will all play, all great players to watch.

Quote tvoc="tvoc"Why are we drip feeding the names one by one? Just name them alltogether. It'll be easier that way. Brett White doesn't sound hopeful of making Round 1 of the NRL season here: www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/m ... public_rss'" Sika Manu? Hopefully the "big three" will all play, all great players to watch.

Another player who didn't play in last years GF team.

Quinn is another and he isn't the last - so that's 4

The real test not be who isn't here but of those that are who gets selected - if they field their strongest possible side i.e. close to side they field for round 1 of the NRL you know they are taking seriously.

However if the team they field differs by 6/7 players especially on the bench then that is an indication as to how seriously they have taken the game

Time will tell - as long as they play Slater, Inglis and Smith I will be happy - that is the only reason I am going to the game.

David, excuse me, but that is rubbish.

The strongest hint is if they play as close =#FF0080as available to their GF winning side, which is of course the reason they got to play this game. As 4 players have left the Melbourne storm since then, Turner, Chambers, Johnsson, and Anderson it is quite obvious that 4 changes would need to be made straight away. Nobody on this forum is knowledgebable enough to know who the 4 players the club have chosen to replace those 4.

We also know that Quinn is here and he would have been playing in that GF team had he been fit.

The only thing for certain is that from that GF winning side, only Cronk and White are still at the club who have not made the trip. That is a million miles away from half the side been left back home. And 2 players missing is a regular occurance in any match including finals.

There is no getting away from the fact that from last years two respective finals teams that are still at the club, that Leeds are missing 2 players and Storm are missing 2 players. What's fairer than that?