'Embarrassing' Storm front up to rediscover defensive resolve

“I'll just have to have a look through it and just see where we think that the problems are and take what the main one is and see if we improve that for next week … perhaps it was complacency, getting that sort of start and just putting slippers on, I'm not quite sure why, I'd hate to think that that's that happened.

“(For our review) we just need our players coming in with – not excuses – but reasons why what happened tonight might have happened tonight, so hopefully we can learn from it.”

For Munster, the loss came at a good time and gave the side an opportunity to address their issues.

"The last probably couple of weeks; Jahrome spoke about it after the game and Bellyache spoke about it, we won on our attack, we haven't had to defend our cage or defend our line a whole heap," Munster said.

“We've relied on our class of our attack and it's worked, sometimes we've got ourselves out of trouble because of that.

“So … that's a probably a big learning for us is our defence.

“I'm glad it's happened now and it hasn't happened in a big game at the back end of the year and we've got pumped by that.

“We're disappointed, but I'm glad it's happened now and not at the back end of the year … it's a good learning and wake up call for us and it's something that we need to address as a group defensively.

“We know we've got points in us, we've showed it the last three or four weeks, so if we can defend really well like other teams, we'll be a very hard team to beat this year.”

While not offering it as an excuse, the Storm have taken a hit to their depth in recent weeks, especially in their outside backs, with the late withdrawal of hooker and captain Harry Grant before game day doing nothing to help with their continuity.

With Will Warbrick (concussion) and Nick Meaney (jaw) already sidelined and Moses Leo undergoing shoulder surgery this week and not due back for a number of months, centre Jack Howarth dislocated his shoulder in the loss to the Dolphins and is also set to miss an extended period.

Versatile Storm back Grant Anderson – who has filled in at various positions already this year – said the team would have to continue to take on a “next man up” mentality, especially with plenty of tough games on the horizon, including this week against the Rabbitohs who will be smarting for their loss to the Bulldogs.

“I think that's the good thing about us is that whoever comes in next is ready and they'll do their job and with Harry's situation, we've got full confidence in Bronno [Bronson Garlick] and Wishy [Tyran Wishart] to fill in,” Anderson told NRL.com.

“They have done it before and whoever steps in for Jack next week, we'll back them to do their job.

“I feel like it's just combinations (that need to be worked on) at the end of the day.

“Obviously, probably our first choice players are out at the moment and I feel that it's just combinations and getting the reps together.

“There's a lot of learning we'll take from (the Dolphins loss) and the good thing about footy is we get to play next week and the sun comes up tomorrow, so it's not the end of the world, so we'll be right to go.”