Storm the ‘Barcelona’ of NRL

SYDNEY Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary has compared the Melbourne Storm to the juggernaut of European football, FC Barcelona, ahead of Good Friday’s epic grand final rematch.

Keary says Storm’s distinct brand of football built around disciplined execution and uncompromising defence is just as predictable as the “tiki-taka” style of Barcelona, which is why Melbourne are the hardest side to beat in the NRL.

“You see it in the soccer, Barcelona have a certain style,” Keary said.

“It’s the same with Melbourne, you know they are going to play a certain way before you get down there. They’re going to play that way, they’re constantly going to do that to you and they just wear you down.

“You have to come with your A-game and perform at the highest level to beat them.”

Barcelona’s brand of quick precision passing to maintain possession has helped them become the most successful football team of the past two decades, having won 10 La Liga titles since 1999 and five Champions League trophies since 1992.

Keary believes Storm coach Craig Bellamy’s ability to mould every player into the perfect prototype needed to execute his game plans is the foundation of their success.

“It’s the culture of the club, it’s Craig Bellamy … he’s had that many players come and go and you know it doesn’t matter who is there or who isn’t there, they have a style of play and they’re going to play it,” he said.

Parallels can also be drawn between the two sporting outfits and the way they have turned their respective home grounds into fortresses. Barcelona were undefeated for 42 games straight until November last year, showcasing their supremacy at Camp Nou.

According to Fox Sports Lab, Melbourne have played 116 games at AAMI Park for a winning record of 75 per cent — the best win rate of any active home ground in the NRL.