Prop Brett White bristled when asked about the criticism of the Storm's record, saying: "Criticism? There's 14 other teams that didn't make it. At the end of the day, we've made three minor premierships so I don't know how you can criticise that."

Storm skipper Cam Smith, who missed Sunday's grand final due to suspension, said talk of the Storm's demise was premature because the team had shown in recent years they could overcome the hurdle of losing star players.

"There's a lot been said about the players we're losing this year and obviously they've all contributed immensely to what we've done over the last few years," Smith said. "But we've had to put up with that over the last couple of years and somehow we've found a way to make the grand final three years in a row - so out of the disappointment that we felt [yesterday], it's certainly going to drive us to make a fourth final in a row next year."

And Folau, who will be playing for Brisbane from next season, had no doubt the Storm team he will face would be as strong as ever.

"For sure, they've got a good base of players in Melbourne," he said. "They're always going to be a strong club, especially after the loss. They'll work hard and try to get back up to the top.

"I don't think [it's the end of an era]. The Storm has been probably one of the most dominant teams over the last three years and teams have been a bit more aware of that and targeting a few of the players which makes it a lot tougher for us. It's always going to be like that if you are one of the top teams."

The Storm players returned to a small turnout to its fan day at Princes Park yesterday. The players, who kept around 200 people waiting in the rain and cold for two hours because of a schedule mix-up, cut dejected figures.

Meanwhile, Storm CEO Brian Waldron yesterday hit out at the partisan ANZ Stadium crowd for booing suspended Melbourne captain Smith.

"I think probably the most disappointing thing was that when Cameron Smith's face came up on the big screen last night, out of 80,000 people probably 60,000 booed him," Waldron told Melbourne radio station SEN.

"If there are any insults to be thrown, they should be thrown at the people of Sydney because that was an absolute disgrace to do that to a player who is the Australian captain. Whether it was in jest, whether they were full of drink, I don't know but I was disgusted in the crowd last night to do that to the Australian captain and they need to be told.

"I think David Gallop should come out and make a statement about what a disgrace it is that they treat the Australian captain like that."

Waldron said the Storm would decide today whether to apologise for coach Craig Bellamy and himself criticising the NRL and the media in the wake of Smith's two-week ban for a grapple tackle.