Melbourne Storm five-eighth Brett Finch says consistency of performance rather than personnel is what his side needs to address after a disappointing NRL loss to Canberra.
The 26-16 loss on Sunday continued Melbourne's struggles during State of Origin time - when star players are often away from their sides..
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well as losing their best players and coach Craig Bellamy during Origin camp, the Storm also face the threat of flat performances when rep players return to club duty after gruelling midweek Origin matches.
But Finch refused to use Origin as an excuse for the loss to Canberra.
He said it was consistency and form away from home the side needed to improve.
"More consistency through the 80 minutes is what we've got to work on," Finch said. "Some patches we played really well, some patches we were down on what we expect."
Finch said the defeat and Storm's ladder placing added to the importance of Saturday's home clash with Newcastle. He described Melbourne's position - three points adrift of St George Illawarra, the Bulldogs and Gold Coast - and three points ahead of fifth-placed North Queensland as "no-man's land".
- AAP
