Craig Bellamy hits back after Sharks accuse Storm of dirty tactics
MELBOURNE Storm coach Craig Bellamy says the rest of the competition would be laughing at Cronulla Sharks’ attempt to be holier-than-thou by accusing the reigning premier of dirty tactics.
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MELBOURNE Storm coach Craig Bellamy has dared the “squeaky clean” and “holier-than-thou” Cronulla Sharks to make good of a promise to go after Cameron Smith and Billy Slater.
It follows a week stage-managed sledging and leaks out of the Shire aimed at Storm tactics and standard grand final pre-planning.
“They’re going to go after Cameron Smith, well what else is new?” Bellamy quipped.
“Everyone goes after Cameron Smith... he hasn’t played nearly 400 NRL games without getting targeted in games.
“If they want to target Cameron I’m sure he’ll handle that OK and that will give us a couple of opportunities in other situations.
“They’re telling us we’re the grubs and they’re holier-than-thou, the squeaky-clean Sharks, please give me a break.”
In what has now become a preliminary final tradition, given the Storm has featured in 10 of the past 13, rivals coaches and players spew expected venom in the build-up.
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan lit the fuse, calling out Smith and Slater as potential targets.
Sharks prop Matt Prior added to the barrage, saying the Storm practice how to “twist your arm (and) wrestle your head off”.
The Sharks went harder still, allegedly leaking out information the “arrogant” Storm was the only finalist to put a hold on three corporate suites at ANZ Stadium for the grand final.
The onslaught, if nothing else, has amused Storm insiders.
“I think most other clubs in the competition would be sitting back laughing at that, saying that we’re the grubs and we do this and we do that,” Bellamy said.
“If they’re trying to make it that they’re holier-than-thou, the squeaky-clean Sharks, well then we all know better than that.
“They’ve kept telling us all week, they’re a very tough team, experienced team... they are, without a doubt… we know that, but we’ve (also) got some guys that have played a lot of big games as well.”
Smith will play his 35th NRL final, equalling Brisbane Broncos icon Darren Lockyer’s record.
Melbourne’s one-point win over Souths a fortnight ago was also the 100th final shared by premiership masterminds Bellamy (36), Smith (34) and Slater (30).
Bellamy declared the Storm must treat the sudden-death final on its merits and not get caught up it potentially being Slater’s, and maybe, Ryan Hoffman’s last ever game.
“We just can’t go in with that emotion ‘we got to do it for Billy’,” Bellamy warned.
“We’ve got to have a clear focus. What we need to do individually, and what we need to do as a team.
“You’d like to think there’d be just something (effort) a little bit there extra for Billy (from players) and hopefully from our fans as well.”
Originally published as Craig Bellamy hits back after Sharks accuse Storm of dirty tactics