Proud to finish top but it's the other trophy we want: NAS

With the club's sixth minor premiership securely locked away, powerhouse forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona said attention has very quickly turned to converting that into a first title since 2020.

Sitting three games clear at the top of the ladder on the back of a dominant 48-6 win over the Dolphins in Asofa-Solomona's 200th NRL game, the Storm are perfectly poised for a shot at another premiership. 

“We weren’t really thinking about it too much, getting the minor premiership,” Asofa-Solomona told pan66.com.

“We’ll take it, but we’re coming for the other trophy [the premiership]. We want the other trophy.” 

Making the Storm's achievement even more remarkable is the fact they have played large chunks of the season without superstar playmaker Cameron Munster, who has missed 10 games, and fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, who has missed six.

Winger Xavier Coates has played just 12 of a possible 22 matches and hooker Harry Grant missed matches during the Origin period, but still the Storm have powered to an 18-4 record to wrap up the JJ Giltinan Shield with two rounds to go.

With their first-choice spine of Papenhuyzen, Munster, Grant and Jahrome Hughes all on deck together for the past five matches, the Storm have averaged 30ppg and taken on an ominous look as September looms.

“When you get to finals, you go up another level,” Asofa-Solomona said.

“We’ve simplified a lot of things. We know we have a lot of points in us, and we just back our defence to get the job done.” 

Captain Grant said that the minor premiership was a reward for the entire squad’s efforts throughout a long campaign.

“We should take a lot of belief and confidence out of that winning the minor premiership,” he said.

“To win games week in, week out, and finish top of the ladder when there’s still two games spare is something to be proud of.

“As a playing group, we’ve used 28 players throughout the course of the season and that’s a plus for our squad, it shows the depth of our squad.

"It shows the people that are buying into the way Craig coaches - being a Melbourne Storm player, working hard. So it does mean a lot.” 

With the focus now narrowing to the games ahead in September, Grant emphasised what was required to ensure their regular season dominance deliver the ultimate prize on October 6.

“It’s on us as players to take ownership, take accountability of where we want to go with it, what we want to do, and how important it is to us over the next six weeks,” said Grant, who has played in two preliminary finals but is still chasing a maiden grand final appearance.

“We’ve definitely had some good conversations as a spine and started to play some footy, but there’s still plenty to work on."

For Bellamy, the minor premiership was a satisfying achievement, but the next few weeks will be about resting players and ensuring they are ready to go for the finals. 

“For me, it’s a pretty big thing. I think the minor premiership is a little bit understated or underrated," he said.

"To be the minor premiers, you have to be the best – more wins than anybody – be the best team for the whole year. But to be the competition winner, you have to be the best team for four weeks. 

“Having said that, by Tuesday, everyone would have forgotten who won the minor premiership, and then we sort of bat on for the next couple of games and then hopefully do well in the finals. 

“We’ll be doing some resting this week. We might do a little bit in the last game as well but certainly this week.”