Storm star Tariq Sims gives a telling one-word answer when asked what Melbourne have to improve on

New recruit Tariq Sims says the Storm have to be better at “everything” they do as the NRL heavyweights desperately try to avoid their worst start to a season since 2004.

The Storm were able to keep their incredible round 1 record alive when they beat the Eels in the season opener, but have gone downhill ever since with back-to-back losses to the Bulldogs and Titans, who both missed the final in 2022.

Cameron Munster did not play in those losses and he has not been the only one missing, with superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen one of the many important players injured.

The signs are not good for a team that prides itself on getting the job done no matter who’s out, and coach Craig Bellamy is clearly frustrated with a defense that has dropped 64 points in the past two weeks.

The Storm play the Wests Tigers at home on Friday night and should be too strong for their winless opponents, but alarm bells will ring everywhere if they go down to another loss.

The Storm kept their incredible first round record alive when they beat the Eels in the season opener, but it’s all gone downhill ever since.

Melbourne haven’t been 1-3 since 2004, when they finally got their act together to reach the second week of the final.

They started the 2000 season 0-4 after winning the title a few months earlier, and it was a 70-10 grand final rematch victory in round 5 that fired them up and they were ranked in the top eight again.

The Storm got off to a slow start in 2021 when they narrowly fell to the Eels and Panthers to go 1-2, but then went on to win 19 straight to clinch the minor top spot.

That’s why the proud club is desperate to bounce back after an unusually poor performance on the Gold Coast.

‘We have to be better with and without the ball. There are no buts about it, we have to be better,’ said Sims.

‘We have to be more disciplined. Our treatment and our contact… everything has to be better. It’s up to us players at the end of the day, and what better day to do that than now.

Sims was one of the injured players to miss the start of the season, but he returned last week and scored on his second cap for his new club.

“It was a surreal experience to receive my jersey,” the veteran said.

Melbourne haven’t been 1-3 since 2004, when they finally got their act together to reach the second week of the final.

The proud club are desperate to bounce back against bottom-placed Wests Tigers on Friday after an unusually poor performance on the Gold Coast.

‘The players and people who have preceded us at the club are phenomenal. To be able to represent the club and be the 230th player is really special for me.’

Sims wasn’t the only returner last week, with powerhouse center Justin Olam a surprising inclusion after breaking his arm in tests.

Olam was expected to be sidelined for up to two months, but he didn’t let the early diagnosis bother him as guys like Papenhuyzen and Christian Welch have been dealing with much longer layoffs.

“It was disappointing but when I came out I saw all the guys on the bench watching the game,” said Olam as he reflected on the injury in Geelong.

“It made me think to myself that a fractured bone is going to be 6 to 8 weeks. We had guys sit out for over a year, so that made me grateful for whatever happened to me. He wasn’t frustrated, he just wanted to get back to the boys.

‘I thought it was going to be longer, but my healing progress was going very well. The first game I was a bit nervous, but as soon as I got on the field, everything went out the window. Hopefully, I can play well.