The Melbourne Storm have been praised for just missing out on the minor premiership after the departure of key players to rival clubs for the 2018 season, but the Storm say they're far from happy.
The Storm are a club who set very high standards for themselves, starting with the head coach Craig Bellamy all the way down to their Under 20s players.
Finishing second on the NRL ladder is an achievement not to shy away from, but according to the Storm's standards, their 2018 campaign has been inconsistent.
Bellamy's men in purple are currently preparing to take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the Qualifying final on Friday night, with the club hoping they can put out their best performance so far this season.
Prop Jesse Bromwich will play his 200th NRL game on Friday night, with hopes Melbourne can produce in a milestone game, something they are generally so good at, but not in 2018.
Bromwich spoke to the media on Tuesday expressing the team still had plenty of improvement left.
"I think we've been quite inconsistent prior to the finals," he said.
"But we had a lot of boys coming in and out, chopping and changing everywhere. But I think we've got lots of improvement in us.
"During our video reviews, we see opportunities we miss, and hopefully they're ones that we can take when guys like Billy Slater and Cameron Munster return."
If the Storm are to book themselves in for another Preliminary Final at AAMI Park, they'll need to overcome a much-improved Souths side who took the chocolates last outing the two teams met in Round 21.
Bromwich, 29, has identified the Burgess brothers as the danger man for the opposition.
"We learnt last time about how big they are, it will be a big challenge for us," Bromwich said.
"The three Burgess boys are going well at the moment, but also guys like Angus Crichton and Johnny Sutton are doing a good job as well."
The prop will become just the sixth player for the Storm to play 200 games in the purple jersey, and has credited coach Bellamy for his career thus far.
"I think I've been very lucky to be at such a good club and learn off such good leaders. Starting with Craig, I try to copy his hard work. When I hit the training paddock or at the gym, I just work as hard as I can."
Bromwich now wants to continue to add to his repertoire by mentoring some of the up and coming young players to be the best that they can be.
"I definitely see that as probably my main role for the young fellas, especially the young forwards, in the way you want to play and preparing the best you can for a game," Bromwich said.
"I probably don't talk as much I like in the meetings, but hopefully I'm out there leading with my actions."
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