Rebels coach Tony McGahan wants his side to take leaf out of Melbourne Storm’s book

TONY McGahan has urged an emerging Rebels team to channel the attitude and poise of Melbourne neighbours the Storm for Friday night’s clash with NSW.

New rebel hurt his knee during training. Melbourne rebels training at Visy Park. Pic. Nicole Garmston.

TONY McGahan has urged an emerging Melbourne Rebels team to channel the attitude and poise of the Melbourne Storm ahead of a David and Goliath Super Rugby tilt against NSW on Friday night.

Stripped of key pair Jason Woodward (knee) and Laurie Weeks (concussion), McGahan has this week concentrated on honing Melbourne’s execution after a frustrating six-point loss to the Crusaders.

And, after watching the Storm overcome NRL rivals Penrith Panthers 18-17 a day after the Rebels had fallen to the Crusaders, McGahan wants his young group to emulate the stability of Craig Bellamy’s squad.

“One of the things about the Storm is how they’re able to stay in the contest, to be able to grind out results,” McGahan said.

“Regardless of whether they’re not playing well or playing well, how the opposition is playing, whether they’re players out, players in, whatever the situation, they have such a belief.

“Such a wonderful attitude that they don’t beat themselves.

“When the clutch moments came against a very good Panthers’ team, in the core moments, they were able to deliver.

“That’s where we are the moment with a young, inexperienced group, we’re in the fight but we’re unable to hold on.

“That’s what we’re here to do and that’s what we’ve got to get better at.”

McGahan will rarely get a better measure of where the Rebels stand than against a talented, seasoned NSW outfit bent on revenge.

Melbourne upstaged the Waratahs 24-22 for the first time last season to claim the Weary Dunlop Shield and followed up with a trial match victory in February.

Those wins coupled with NSW’s stinging loss to the Brumbies last week will guarantee NSW is on war footing at Allianz Stadium.News_Rich_Media: Despite providing every reason to claim the spoils, the Melbourne Rebels left it too late, going down to the Crusaders 25-19.

McGahan could not consider fullback Woodward and prop Weeks after the duo failed to recover.

Weeks is likely to be replaced by Paul Alo-Emile in the starting XV, paving the way for Cruze Ah-Nau to make his first Super Rugby appearance of the season from the bench.

Woodward’s absence will probably be covered by Angus Roberts with either Tom Kingston or Japanese international Male Sau being promoted to the bench.

McGahan said, contrary to reports in Sydney, that Melbourne does not claim to have the blueprint to beat NSW.

“It comes down to the core fundamentals every game,” he said.

“It’s about attitude, perspective, it’s about being able to carry well, it’s about recycling quickly and being able to defend when we need to.

“That along with the set piece, those fundamentals don’t change.

“Those things don’t change — I don’t know if it’s a blueprint of any sort — it’s about getting those fundamentals.

“It’s a really key challenge for us.

“A real key for us this week to be able to keep pressure on the opposition through key moments and being able to come up with the right decision making and being able to hold it for longer from a mental concentration point of view.

“We have some really good ingredients, we’re in the fight, we’re in the contest — now we need to stay in the contest a little bit longer.”