Storm GM Ponissi reveals brutally honest rating of season so far

The Melbourne Storm are on the brink of capturing a sixth minor premiership as they hold a tight lead over the reigning Premiers Penrith Panthers with just four rounds of the regular season to play.

Melbourne has been one of the surprise stories of the 2024 season after enduring a severe injury toll throughout the middle of the year and still managing to lead the competition for the majority of that team.

After only recently welcoming back both Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster, Melbourne is in the driver’s seat to take out top spot and the club’s first bit of silverware since the 2021 season.

Whilst many would consider this season to be a raging success, the Storm’s General Manager of Football Frank Ponissi gave a surprising answer when he was asked to rate his side’s 2024 showing.

“Obviously our position on the ladder, we’re really pleased with,” Ponissi said on SEN 1170 NRL Crunch Time.

“The way we’ve played and won certain games, we’ve hung into every single game, even the games we’ve lost, I think from that point of view we’d rate highly.

“But we probably haven’t been consistently at our best, so that would probably keep the score down to a 7.5.

“The pleasing part about it is when we play the top teams, they’ve been our best performances.

“With Thursday night coming along we hope the boys will play at that level again.”

Melbourne can place one hand on the J. J. Giltinan Shield when they face their closest rivals the Penrith Panthers in a blockbuster on Thursday night.