Feel The Thunder Podcast

Renowned as one of the best General Manager's of Football in professional sport, Melbourne Storm Director of Football, Frank Ponissi joins Stormy Daniel to discuss all things Football Department and Program related matters; from the trials and tribulations of Season 2026, the positive outlook for 2027, recruitment challenges, roster forecasting the 'Road to AAMI Park' pathways Program, how the 2027 pre-season will look with no finals, Rugby League World Cup and Las Vegas, to EQT's investment and Bellyache continuing to coach on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back-to-back wins to finish off what many Storm fans would consider 2026 as the season from hell. The sheer amount of bad luck, uncontrollable occurrences which contributed to Melbourne missing the Finals for only the second time in 16 years. Stormy Daniel reviews the stunning last minute win over the Sharks, whilst covering off on what’s making Storm News and answers your listener questions. It feels incredibly odd knowing that Storm will not be playing football in September. What are we to do with ourselves Storm fans? I guess we can start counting down the days till Round 1….only 172 and counting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you had said at the beginning of the season that last year's Grand Finalists would be playing in a dead rubber fixture in Round 26, most would have suggested you need to be admitted and undergo psychiatric testing. As hard as it is believe, knowing the hardship and adversity Melbourne Storm have endured in Season 2026, that the Broncos, the reigning Premiers are having a worse season. Despite both team's respective woes, one thing that you can guarantee, clashes between the two franchises are always an occasion that both sets of players get up for, acknowleding the rivalry and history that exists between the pair. Stormy Daniel reviews the 46-20 victory over the Broncos, including how the game was used by the NRL to trial a controversial kickoff rule, which has gone down like a lead balloon. Stormy Daniel covers off on the final pathways report for 2026, what's making Storm news, your listener questions and the final team list Tuesday of the season. Who's in, who's out for Storm as Melbourne hit the road for their last Round clash with 2016 Grand Final opponents the Cronulla-Sharks, who themselves have the hippy hippy shakes, leading into the finals and will be desperate to get a win going into week 1 of the Finals series. Can Storm be of nuisance value, upsetting the Sharks on their home deck? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stormy Daniel reviews the narrow defeat to the Panthers. Give any team a 22-nil lead after 40 minutes, let alone the opposition being the Panthers and the contest is over before the second half has even begun. Penrith were at their clinical best, taking the the Storm's defensive fragilities on the edges; the bugbear and major concern of Head Coach Craig Bellamy all season. But a spirited second half showing saw Melbourne score 14 unanswered points against the Premiership favourites, but Penrith's defence, specifically their goal line D was resolute as they managed to keep turning away Storm time and time again. The effort by Melbourne was evident, but lacking the class of the competiton's joint-leaders with missing personnel was the real difference between the two teams. Lacking the star power and polish on last play options have inevitably hurt Melbourne for most of Season 2026. Stormy Daniel also covers off on what's making Storm news, including pathways report, Tui Kamikamica retires whilst being honoured with inaugral contest between the Jersey Flegg Storm and Silktails which will become an annual clash, playing for the Tui Kamikamica Bowl; with the game recognising Kamikamica’s contribution to rugby league in both Fiji and Australia. Additional news included Storm welcoming leading global investment organisation, EQT, as a majority shareholder in the Club and what it means for the Victorian Rugby League club moving forward, with Chairman Matt Tripp speaking to EQT's investment, whilst believing Craig Bellamy is far from done as Storm's Head Coach beyond 2027 and his confidence of marquee man Cameron Munster remaining a one club player. Plus team list Tuesday as Storm prepare for their Round 26 clash with the last season's Grand Final opponents, the Brisbane Broncos. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The finals may be out of reach for Melbourne, but there is always plenty to play for; specifically when coming up against the club’s fiercest rival in Manly. With the Sea Eagles getting the victory in the first leg between the two combatants, it was Storm’s turn to square the ledge, coming from a 14-nil deficit, to run away victors, posting 42 unanswered points. Stormy Daniel reviews the great win in which Melbourne displayed plenty of resilience, down to 12 at one stage and getting the win still severely undermanned, missing a host of big names. Stormy Daniel cover off on the pathways results from Round 23, what’s making Storm News, including a surprise key signing for next season, your listener questions and team list Tuesday, as Storm turn their attention to a Panthers who will be smarting off the back of consecutive losses, in what is Melbourne’s final home game of the season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melbourne Storm Recruitment Manager Paul Bunn drops in for a chat, discussing the 2026 season; the unprecedented challenges and adversity the club has faced, the resilience that has been shown, the strength and talent of the pathways coming through and why brighter days lie ahead for the Storm in 2027 and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The final nail in the coffin was delivered by the Bulldogs last Friday night, as Canterbury-Bankstown took full advantage of a undermanned Melbourne outfit, who were missing 10 of the regulars. The loss all but ends Storm’s finals aspirations; the second time in 17 seasons, that the club has not featured in September - and only the third occasion in Melbourne’s 28 year history as a franchise. Stormy Daniel reviews the defeat, praising the effort by one of those most inexperienced Storm teams that has ever graced an NRL field. The shining lights from the game were the debuts of young halfback Hayden Watson and Jai Bowden - both who have put pen to paper, committing to Melbourne until the end of the 2030 season, joining other young guns in Gabriel Satrick and Cooper Clarke. Stormy Daniel also covers off on all the Storm news, pathways report, your listener questions and team list Tuesday, as Melbourne head west to Perth, taking their Magic Round home game to HBF Park against arch rivals Manly, where they will be wanting to square the ledger after going down to the Sea Eagles in Round 17. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another week, another injury. The woes for the Melbourne Storm continue in what has been the tale of the tape for Season 2026. This time, Captain Harry Grant succumbed to a hamstring issue which will sideline him for the next few weeks. Stormy Daniel reviews the narrow loss to the Rabbitohs, where Melbourne had did enough to win the game only for a schoolboy like error by mercurial fullback Sua Fa’alogo to turn from hero to villain. Defensive fragilities were again on display which is an area Storm need to rectify and fix before the next season. Stormy Daniel gives an update on the club’s pathways teams, covers off on all the Storm News, including some speculated player movement, your listener questions and team list Tuesday. Could another debutant or two be about to pull on the purple jersey against the Bulldogs this Friday night? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Courageous. Gutsy. Resilient. Brave. Just some of the superlatives one could use to describe Storm’s performance against their Round 20 clash with the Roosters. Taking the field without their starting halves and losing representative winger Will Warbrick early on in the piece with a ruptured Achilles tendon, Melbourne did not lose any admirers to be in the contest for close to the entire 80 minutes. Stormy Daniel reviews the tremendous effort and showing by an understrength Storm outfit who almost did the impossible to cause what would’ve been an upset for the ages; as well as covering off on the pathways report, what’s making Storm news, your listener questions and team list Tuesday. Who’s in, who’s out, who’s available is more the question as the Storm hit the road back to Sydney to take on a desperate Rabbitohs team, needing to win to maintain their position inside the Top 8. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Winning ugly is still winning. They do not draw pictures on the premiership ladder, as Melbourne got in a scrap with the Gold Coast, showing belief and confidence to stay in the arm wrestle and not give up - characteristics that were missing during Storm’s long run of seven straight losses. Stormy Daniel reviews the 22-18 win over the Titans, with the win proving to be important for both their finals aspirations but also, proving to themselves they can win the tight games. Good teams are never beaten. Stormy Daniel covers off on Pathways results, all the Storm news - including a prospective $160 million sale of the franchise to a consortium in Hong Kong, your listener questions and team list Tuesday. Who’s in? Who’s out for Melbourne as they overcome a five-day turnaround to take on a tough Eastern Suburbs outfit who will have something to crow about after Storm dusted the Roosters back in Round 13. Can Melbourne overcome adversity to extend their dominance over the Chooks? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.