The Melbourne Storm have already won the NRL minor premiership.
Storm legend Cameron Smith has hit back at criticism levelled at the club after Craig Bellamy announced he will rest players for round 26 and 27 after Melbourne secured the minor premiership last week. The Storm were imperious on the weekend with the Melbourne spine sending a message to the rest of the NRL competition after a 48-6 win over the Dolphins.
Former Storm fullback Billy Slater already admitted Bellamy will look to rest players heading into the final few rounds. And after the game against the Dolphins, Bellamy admitted he would look to rotate some players to give them a break before NRL finals.
“Without a doubt, we’ll be doing some resting this week,” Bellamy said. “We might even do a little bit in the last game (against the Broncos). I don’t know yet, but certainly this week.”
The Storm will rest players against the Cowboys this week in an away game, before resting a few against the Broncos. The Cowboys will welcome the news as they look to cement themselves in the top six and even push for a top four finish. If the Sea Eagles lose on Friday night, a win would wrap-up a home final for the Cowboys.
There are some arguments resting players at the end of the season can warp the ladder, which favours teams desperate to win games. However, Storm and Maroons legend Smith has agreed with Bellamy’s view the team has the right to rest players after already winning the minor premiership. Smith added there isn’t enough credit for the team that finishes at the top of the table each year.
“That’s the whole basis of resting. They have wrapped up the minor premiership and have achieved something very special. It is something extremely hard to do. Teams that go on to win minor premierships each season, I don’t think there is enough credit to those particular clubs. It is such a hard thing to do. They have had to be the best team in 25 rounds of rugby league,” Smith said on SEN Radio, Radio, acknowledging there is still two weeks to go.
“We tend to sweep under the carpet how difficult it is to win a minor premiership. The Storm, they have got the opportunity to rest players that have played State of Origin, they have played long minutes and played every round of this season.”
Smith added it will be the key players that could be rested ahead of the finals. He also pointed out the Storm have the short turnaround this week and it would be difficult on any club. “I am assuming it is going to be Harry Grant, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Jahrome Hughes, Josh King and there are some outside backs that have played a lot of football. Maybe someone like an Eli Katoa,” Smith added.
“This could be a huge benefit for the younger players just to give them a one week spell to freshen up…the way it works out, the game on the weekend into the Cowboys this Thursday night is a five day turnaround. The shortest turnaround in the competition, plus the travel to Townsville.” Smith reiterated what Slater said last week and said the Storm will look to freshen up in round 26. Bellamy’s men will then take the Broncos game more seriously and aim to take momentum into the first round of the NRL finals.
Melbourne Storm criticised for resting players
Speaking on NRL 360, reporter Phil Rothfield claimed he didn’t like the idea of the Storm resting up to 10 players. Rothfield claimed fans in Townsville will now miss out seeing a number of superstars take to the field.
“I think for the fans that come from remote areas in North Queensland, they travel up to six hours to watch a game of footy to see the likes of (Harry) Grant, (Ryan) Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Hughes play,” Rothfield said after admitting he didn’t like the idea of resting players. “I just think you’re ripping people off.”
Christian Welsh defends Storm’s decision to rest players
Storm forward Christian Welsh was quick to hit back at the criticism on Monday and said the team have the right to decide if they want to rest players or not. Welsh claimed there will be a number of young players getting a chance this Thursday against the Cowboys.
“I’ve been on holidays for about a month so I won’t be getting a break because I need some match fitness, and there are a few other guys who have probably missed some games during the year who will be playing,” Welch said. “There’ll be some really exciting rewards for some guys who have been fantastic all year. The general public don’t get to see them because they’re not playing for the Storm, but they’re playing a really critical role for our club in challenging the Storm team.
“We call them the Renegades. They’re the guys who create the opposition during the week, so this week will be pretty funny because we’ll have plenty of senior players over on the other side who’ll be trying to mimic the Cowboys mannerisms and their star players.”
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