A near certainty is that whenever the Melbourne Storm are mentioned talk of The Big Three soon follows.
However there is one vital cog to the Victorian outfit that is proving as crucial a component as any.
Jesse Bromwich proved in Saturday's thrilling 18-17 win over Penrith just how important he is to the fortunes of Craig Bellamy’s side.
The Kiwi international notched up 178 metres with the football to go with 22 tackles in a herculean effort on a milestone night for the club.
Bromwich was the one consistant performer on a night where the Storm often lacked polish going forward and were forced to whether constant strings of Penrith sets.
However a second consecutive one-point win through a drop goal in the final minute left the side capable of celebrating Billy Slater’s 250th match and Cameron Smith’s games record for the club in a winning fashion.
“We spoke about it as a playing group and it was defiantly one we wanted to get. Billy and Cam have done so much for the club and we all really look up to them,” said Bromwich.
“We dropped plenty of ball and our passes weren’t quite there tonight but that is something we can definitely improve on.”
Purple hearts were in mouths for the second straight week, with the Storm surviving a number of last gasp Penrith attacks.
None was perhaps more thrilling than when Bromwich’s younger brother Kenny would prove a match-saver, charging down a Peter Wallace drop kick from point blank range as the contest look set for golden point.
“It was a great effort, I was on the other side and I saw him do it, I was pretty stoked about that,” said Bromwich.
Kenny has performed strongly off the bench for the Storm this season, averaging 89 metres and almost 13 tackles in the opening fortnight.
With an eye to further cementing his place in the prop-roation, his older brother admits it is a thrill to play together at the highest level.
“It is still very exciting, mum and dad always ring me and they love it,” said Bromwich.
“It is definitely a highlight.”
As the Storm look to build on what has been a thrilling start to its 2014 season, the Bromwich brothers are shaping as a crucial part of this Storm line-up.
Melbourne will host Newcastle next Monday night at AAMI Park.
