Melbourne Storm are statistically the best finishers in the NRL at present but forward Kenny Bromwich says that only means other areas of their game need improvement.
Storm are riding high with six consecutive wins to sit second on the Telstra Premiership ladder, but Bromwich remembers the early rounds when the side struggled with completions, handling errors and kick diffusals.
The Craig Bellamy-coached side have turned around their season on the back of focusing on strong starts and powerful finishes, a run that can be traced back to their 40-14 win over the Knights in round six at AAMI Park.
Since then, Melbourne have won nine from 11 and racked up 146 fourth-quarter points. Their 100-54 advantage in first quarters proves they are good at putting rivals on the back foot early as well.
But 26-year-old Bromwich said the team was still yet to produce a complete performance this year.
"I try to look at the game as a whole," Bromwich said.
"In that sense, we've got a lot to improve on. We haven't really played our best footy yet - we're still finding ourselves. I feel we need to improve in our completions and that sort of stuff."
Warriors v Storm - Round 19
Having Cameron Smith around during the Holden State of Origin period - he plays his 376th first-grade game this weekend against the Warriors - has added immensely to the Storm's confidence throughout the middle part of the season.
"He's someone you always like having around," Bromwich said.
"He brightens up the mood of everyone at the club and with having him there, training's been a lot smoother, meetings have been a bit shorter, and it was just good having him there.
"We have a few young hookers in Harry Grant and Brandon Smith, so the more they can have him around, the more they can pick off him and keep learning."
The seventh-placed Warriors are still reeling from the news that former Kiwis captain Simon Mannering is retiring - a decision that caught Bromwich off-guard.
"I thought he would play a bit longer," he said.
"I've got a lot of respect for Simon. He was my roomie a few times in NZ camp.
"He's got a lot of time for everyone and is such a good person. Hopefully they can turn up and play well, and hopefully we can turn up and play better."
