Most teams would be thrilled with a solid 5-1 start the season and a share of the competition lead, but the perfection-chasing Melbourne Storm refuse to be complacent with their performances.
The Storm were guilty of repeated errors that denied them the opportunity to build momentum and put pressure on the Cronulla Sharks in their first loss of the season in an old-school slogfest in the wet.
The Storm completed just 14 of their 23 first-half sets, before finishing with a completion rate of 27 out of 40.
Already losing key members of last year's grand final squad, Melbourne have been hit by injuries this season as Kiwi-international captain Jesse Bromwich and rising-star Cameron Munster were forced to watch the side's error-riddled performance against Cronulla from the sideline.
Both Bromwich and Munster are named to take on the Sea Eagles this week but club tough-man Dale Finucane doesn't expect that to answer their current struggles with the ball.
Finucane refuses to blame the weekly line-up changes for affecting the side's continuity and sloppiness in attack.
"We were quite disjointed last year with our turnover of players, especially in the outside backs at the start of the year and our forwards at the backend of last year. We didn't appear to have those issues in that period," Finucane said.
"The turnover of players isn't the issue – its fundamental errors we need to get right at the start of the year.
"If you can look at it, the pleasing aspect of it is it's not coming from playing football, they're fundamental errors in the ruck and holding the ball.
"That's been the main focus of the meeting we've had and something we need to rectify as a team.
"The biggest thing for us is rectifying those errors and fixing that. Our defence has been most pleasing for us this year and a positive we can draw on. Manly's a quality side and they'll be very tough."
The Storm travel to Manly to face former teammate Blake Green as the Sea Eagles also aim to bounce back from their disappointing 35-10 loss to the St George-Illawarra Dragons.
Centre Cheyse Blair was named in Melbourne's side but is fighting to prove his fitness in recovering from a back injury.
However, the Storm will trust their depth again if he is unable to play.
"He's been one of our best players this year. We've had to go into our depth already. Last year, we had a lot of injuries and suspensions but we were confident with the depth we had that we could fill those positions."
