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Storm focus is on form not NRL record

3 minute read

Melbourne co-captain Jesse Bromwich says equalling the Sydney Roosters' 46-year-old win-streak record will be an achievement but playing well is more important.

JESSE BROMWICH.
JESSE BROMWICH. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

They have a long-standing rugby league record in sight but Melbourne co-captain Jesse Bromwich says the Storm's priority is getting back to their best football to successfully defend their NRL title.

A win against Gold Coast on Thursday night will draw Melbourne level with the Australian premiership record of 19 straight wins, set by Eastern Suburbs in 1975.

Bromwich says while the record would be an achievement, building form and momentum with the finals looming is more important.

"People don't really remember the winning streaks, it's premierships that count," Bromwich said on Monday.

"My main focus is on performing well and building as a team.

"It looked like in the middle of the year that our attack was really coming along but we've had lots of injuries, with key guys coming in and out so it's about just trying to find our rhythm again.

"It's only minor things we need to work on and positives we can take out of it is that we've shown we can win scrappy games as well as blow teams off the park."

Against the Titans the Storm will be without halfback Jahrome Hughes and co-captain Dale Finucane, after each suffered head knocks in their win over Canberra.

Hughes was hit by back-rower Corey Harawira-Naera while lock Finucane was hurt in the first minute of the match.

"Obviously we had Hughesy and Dale with the head knocks and it looks like they'll be resting this week, so again a couple out," Bromwich said.

The Storm have been using fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen off the bench in place of another big body but Bromwich felt they had forwards to accommodate that.

"We're lucky we've got some very fit forwards - Dale (Finucane) can play massive minutes and Welchy (Christian Welch) has gone to another level this year, and we've still got Tui (Kamikamica) and Nelson (Asofa-Solomona) to come back," the Kiwi prop said.

"It's a tricky one because that third forward usually only gets 10-12 minutes and we have a back there who can cover multiple positions, so I think that's the way you have to go."

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