Melbourne Storm CEO Dave Donaghy says the impending departure of high-profile wingers Josh Addo-Carr and Suliasi Vunivalu isn't a reason from doom and gloom.
The star wingers will spend their last year in purple in 2020, with Addo-Carr expected to join a Sydney club and Vunivalu off to rugby union.
The post-2020 campaign departure of the wingers follows the exit of premiership-winning centres Will Chambers and Curtis Scott following the 2019 season.
After defending the decisions made by Addo-Carr and Vunivalu, Donaghy - who was speaking at AAMI Park as the Victorian government pledged $130,000 to the NRL's In League In Harmony program - insists the club remains in a healthy position.
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"Storm have consistently lost three or four high profile, [high] calibre players each year with different competing pressures and it is just about how you handle that at the time," Donaghy told NRL.com.
"The NRL has probably got a little more maturity in its system in terms of players acknowledging under their rights they are able to re-contract or contract with another club 12 months out as that is part of their CBA and part of their rights.
"But it works both ways as you [clubs] can be in the market 12 months out knowing that is what's coming up.
"We have got our core locked down for quite some time, with [Cameron] Munster locked in until 2023, [Ryan] Papenhuyzen locked in until 2022, Brandon Smith until 2022 and Harry Grant until 2022 or 2023, so from that end that is a good base to work from and you can build from there."
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Donaghy said Storm coach Craig Bellamy has already spoken with Vunivalu and Addo-Carr, reminding them that the lofty expectations placed upon their shoulders would not be relaxed.
"Craig has had a chat with all those guys and emphasised the point that they are contracted here for this year and the expectation is that they are performing at the highest level," Donaghy said.
"Because if they don't, [they] don't want to find themsleves playing Queensland Cup each week."
The Storm have trials against the Warriors (away) and the Cowboys (home) later this month, before opening the regular season with a trip to Lottoland to face arch-rivals Manly.
Last year the Storm stunned Manly 36-6 late in the season, but the clash was soured by an incident between Chambers and a home fan that almost cost the Sea Eagles the chance of hosting a home final.
Donaghy said he spoke with Manly chairman Scott Penn immediately after that game and was confident that a similar type of incident was unlikely to happen.
"We spoke with Manly afterward and Scott was at pains to point out that they take security very seriously, so we are confident with the measures that have been put in place," Donaghy said.
"That incident was disappointing, but I think when things like that happen hopefully we take some lessons and learnings and make improvements."
