Storm success was as certain as death and taxes. So how has it all gone wrong? | Nick Tedeschi

Last year’s NRL grand finalists are in dire straits but their sharp decline is more about controllable factors than any bad luck that has befallen the club

For over two decades, Melbourne Storm have been the standard for how an elite sporting organisation operates in Australia. Led by head coach Craig Bellamy and head of football Frank Ponissi, the Storm have known nothing but success. The only time they have missed finals under Bellamy was during a ban following the 2010 salary cap scandal. In 23 years with Bellamy in charge, the Storm have won nine minor premierships, finished in the top four 18 times and played in 11 grand finals, winning five. Success has spanned players, spanned time and spanned the changing nature of the game.

Death, taxes and the Storm contending for the NRL premiership were three of life’s certainties. Death is coming, taxes are going nowhere but for the first time Melbourne are facing a situation they know little of: failure.