FRESH: Cooper Cronk and his Melbourne Storm teammates were given the weekend off football. Source: Getty Images
AFTER a frantic few weeks to open the season flustered Melbourne Storm players were given a football-free weekend to help prepare for Friday's blockbuster clash with the Brisbane Broncos.
Storm halfback Cooper Cronk, who has netted two man-of-the-match awards through Melbourne's opening three games, said the freshen up was crucial after travelling here there and everywhere since the World Club Challenge in London.
But just as important as the break will be this week's field sessions given Storm has survived on a diet of one skills session per game so far and despite netting three wins Cronk said his team hadn't fully hit its straps.
"We were given the weekend off which was nice. It's been quite a hectic period and we set ourselves for the first month to get the job done, get the results we wanted and we have one more week of that," Cronk said today.
"We only had one field session going in to the Bulldogs game (last Thursday) and we played well but there were passes that weren't crisp or not hitting the spot. Training has been formulated this week to accommodate playing in Brisbane, we'll get a few more skill-based sessions in and hopefully those things will improve.
"It's Round 4 and we're not playing to the best of our ability yet ... there's nothing to be comfortable about."
Cronk said Storm's undefeated start to the season had come through focusing on the fundamentals, getting them right and not tinkering with magic plays.
He said that would come later in the year, which could make Melbourne even more dangerous.
"The main thing for us as a football team is our performance at the start of the year. The results will take care of themselves," he said.
"We are defending well, our kicking game and ball control are crucial. If we are doing those things well then we can start tinkering with the specifics of game plans and our plays we like to throw at defences.
"We are in a good position and in previous years we have been as well. But we don't rest on our laurels. We continue to work hard."
Cronk currently leads the Dally M medal race with seven points from three games, just ahead of North Queensland Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston who plays against the Knights in Newcastle tonight.
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