Is 2019 the year the Storm come back to the pack?

It seems like every pre-season in the past four or five seasons that fans, such as myself, jump to the conclusion that THIS is the year where the Melbourne Storm come back to the pack. No, we’re not expecting the Storm to run last, or even come close to missing the eight, but surely 2019 is the year that the mighty Melbourne Storm are no longer top four certainties? Ok so last season I predicted that the Storm would come second. Not exactly a fall, but the season prior (the season they literally won the premiership) I think I had them sneaking into the eight. The season prior (Grand final loss to the Sharks) I had them finishing ninth. I was not the only one.The Storm managed to overcome the loss of one of the top two halfbacks of this generation to make a Grand Final. It’s no coincidence that Cooper Cronk (that very halfback) was the man who lead his new side, the Roosters, to victory over the Storm.