Deep Review: Raiders Deliver Melbourne's 5th Loss in a Row

The Canberra Raiders secured a gritty 26-22 victory over the Melbourne Storm, marking the Storm’s fifth consecutive loss and exposing deep structural issues within their squad. The episode centers on Hudson Young’s standout performance as the 'Full Package' player of the week—effortless, fearless, and consistently dominant across all phases of play. His relentless energy, defensive resilience, and ability to impact games from multiple positions make him a clear-cut origin selection, especially with key injuries to the Storm’s edge. The hosts argue that Young’s consistent excellence over two and a half years should finally earn him a starting role in New South Wales Origin, despite past hesitations. Meanwhile, the Storm’s struggles are dissected in depth: a lack of identity, a crumbling edge defense, and an over-reliance on a once-dominant spine now weakened by injuries and aging. The absence of players like Eli Katoa and Coates—estimated to have contributed 30-40% of their points last season—has left a void that no replacement has filled. The hosts question whether the Storm’s aggressive preseason pursuit of Zach Lomax was a desperate, early warning sign of this collapse. Even their reserve grade side is underperforming, suggesting systemic issues beyond first grade. Despite the pessimism, the hosts still believe in the Storm’s ability to fight back, but they’ve removed them from their premiership contenders list for now.