The likes of Penrith, Canberra and the Roosters have more flair. They have younger rosters and there is more blue sky in front of both. The Storm have supposedly peaked several times in the last season with an inevitable downturn imminent. 

All of the above may well be true, but you only needed to watch them on Sunday to see firsthand what they do better than any other team in the competition – absorb pressure.

In mixed martial arts parlance, you would say they are dangerous off their back. That is, they don’t merely hang on while they’re under the pump, they find a way to counterpunch.

The Tigers are hardly the most prized scalp in the NRL this season, but if there was any game where they were going to come out and shock one of the big guns, it was Sunday at Leichardt.

The Storm had just 38 per cent possession in the first half but still managed to hit back in the 40^th minute. The genius of Cameron Smith got them back in the game in the second as they ran off with it. 

Cronulla come the closest of their rivals – that’s why they got the better of Canberra at finals time last season- but when it comes to staying in the battle when you have no right to, Smith and co. are simply in a league of their own.