Never mind the Big Three, it's the Big Boppers who are the real reason for Melbourne's bright 6-3 start to the NRL season.
Storm captain Cameron Smith on Tuesday pointed to a greater emphasis on patience, plus improvements in defence as factors in proving a lot of pre-season doubters wrong.
But Smith said the sheer might of their forward pack, which includes Kiwis Test contingent Jesse Bromwich, Tohu Harris and Kevin Proctor, was the biggest influence.
"It was a point I raised with the coaches and recruiting staff over the last 18 months," Smith said.
"The way the game was going ... the teams dominating the comp had fairly big forward packs.
"We're now competing with the big teams, whereas in the past it's been about trying to hold on for as long as we can or trying to outsmart the opposition."
While the Storm have long looked to their superstar Big Three - Smith, halfback Cooper Cronk and fullback Billy Slater - Smith said the platform being laid for them by the likes of Bromwich, Harris, Proctor, Jordan McLean, Ryan Hinchcliffe and newcomer Dale Finucane was paving the way in 2015.
"It's been a lot different, I've certainly had more opportunities at dummy-half to run the ball .. and ask questions around the ruck."
The Storm's heavy hitters will be put to the test against South Sydney's big men, led by George Burgess, at AAMI Park on Saturday.
Victory on the weekend would leave Smith's team sitting pretty, potentially as high as first on the table, as they prepare to lose the big three to State of Origin.
"The majority of people, particularly up north, didn't even give us a chance of finishing in the top eight," Smith said.
"It's doesn't really bother us or affect us, what people think about our side and where they think we'll finish.
"I knew from seeing the squad, where we were at leading into round one ... we had the ability to do something pretty special this year.
Melbourne's 2014 season ended with a 28-4 loss to Canterbury in week one of the finals, reflecting the relative ease at which sides scored against them.
Craig Bellamy's men have since tightened things up, with only St George Illawarra conceding fewer points after nine rounds.
Smith noted they had also been more composed with ball in hand.
"What was a huge strength for us in the past was our patience," he said.
"We just have to put our fancy football away at times."
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