Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler analyse why the Melbourne Storm have not reached the NRL finals, in commentary reported across multiple outlets. Johns focuses on identifying the underlying reasons for the club’s drop-off, arguing that specific factors have limited the team’s ability to reach the end-of-season series. Brad Fittler, in the same discussion, praises aspects of the Storm’s current squad, particularly the development and impact of the club’s young halfback. The reporting highlights that the conversation pairs critique of the team’s overall results with recognition of promising talent emerging within the roster. Across the three sources, the central themes remain consistent: Johns points to why the Storm have fallen short of finals contention, while Fittler draws attention to the progression of the club’s younger playmaker. Overall, the articles present a dual perspective—one aimed at explaining the Storm’s performance decline, and another highlighting positives in their ongoing player development.