*bump*
Is three really the magic number for Melbourne?
'I know Craig [Bellamy] still believes you can build a team around three players, but I think we are starting to see the problems if you do.''
That was the reaction of one rival coach to Melbourne's current losing streak, which was extended to four defeats in five games when the competition leaders went down 20-16 to North Queensland on Saturday.
While comparisons between Cooper Cronk calling a press conference to announce he would re-sign with Melbourne and LeBron James keeping a nation in suspense as it waited for him to reveal live on TV that he was taking his ''talents to South Beach'' were far-fetched, there are similarities between the way the Storm and Miami Heat manage their salary caps.
The Heat allocate about 66 per cent of their US$78 million wages bills on James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and have built an NBA championship winning team around them. In comparison, the Storm's big three of Cronk, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater take up about 45 per cent of the club's $4.3 million salary cap.
Like Heat president Pat Riley, who has about $25 million to spread among the remaining 12 players on his roster, Bellamy has to accommodate another 22 players at an average of about $100,000 per head.
To do so, he relies on a combination of young players scouted and developed by the club, such as Justin O'Neill, Matt Duffie, Jesse Bromwich, veterans, such as Jason Ryles, and journeymen like Brian Norrie and Jaiman Lowe.
They are support acts who know their roles are to help the big three shine, and are happy to do so for the reward of a premiership or a big contract elsewhere. In recent seasons, the likes of Jeremy Smith, Brett White, Adam Blair, Sika Manu and Dane Nielsen have all signed for more money elsewhere after becoming representative players while at Melbourne, and Greg Inglis was squeezed out after the 2010 salary cap scandal engulfed the team.
It is a formula that has worked well for Bellamy, with the Storm winning last year's minor premiership and leading this season's competition since the outset. However, as happened last year, the absence of one or more of the big three due to State of Origin commitments and injuries has raised questions about the Storm's salary cap philosophy.
After winning their opening nine games this season, Melbourne's unbeaten run came to an end the weekend the teams were named for Origin I, as they lost 12-10 to Cronulla. In the absence of Smith, Cronk and Slater due to Origin duty with Queensland, the Storm were beaten by Wests Tigers in round 14 and lost their last three matches to the Bulldogs, Raiders and Cowboys.
Slater has missed all three games due to a knee injury sustained in Origin II that also ruled him out of the series decider, while Smith was unable to back up from that match for the game against Canberra.
Last season, the Storm got the wobbles later and lost their final two matches against Manly and Sydney Roosters before bowing out of the finals after losing in the second week to the Warriors at AAMI Stadium.
How they perform from here on in will be a test of the club's Miami Heat-like salary cap structure.
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