If the NRL launch applied to any one team, that team would be the Melbourne Storm.

With the start of a new year comes a clean slate and for Melbourne that means escaping last year's salary cap breach and finally being able to play for competition points once again.

For the first time since they lost to Manly on April 19 last season, Melbourne will walk onto a football field with a purpose.

And according to firebrand forward Adam Blair, the Storm are ready to take out seven months of pent-up frustration on their round one opponents - who also happen to be fierce rivals Manly.

"Absolutely it's exciting, the boys are pumped, it's going to be full on from the word go," Blair told AAP.

"It's the first time we're playing for points in a long time, so we'll be pushing to try and get (AAMI Park) packed out.

"For me, personally, I'm just excited to be going out there and playing for something."

Despite having their roster gutted, losing star players Greg Inglis, Ryan Hoffman, Jeff Lima, Brett White and Brett Finch, as well as assistant coach Stephen Kearney to Parramatta, Blair said the Melbourne culture would ensure they finish the season in title contention.

"Every footy team wants to be there around semi-finals time and playing in grand finals and I think it is a reasonable goal for us," he added.

"If we do what we are capable of producing, we give ourselves every chance (to win the competition), but we know it's going to be tough.

"Obviously losing that many players is going to be a massive difference, but the boys who have come in have adapted well to what we do down in Melbourne.

"Once they learn about how we play and the style we have in Melbourne, the easier it's going to be for them and for us."

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