Shane Flanagan says Cronulla respect Melbourne more than any other team in the competition
AS Cronulla close ranks following the withdrawal of Paul Gallen, coach Shane Flanagan has claimed the Sharks respect Melbourne more than any other team in the competition.
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THEY will be missing their inspirational leader Paul Gallen.
But even without the veteran forward, Cronulla have vowed to climb off the canvas and finish the Melbourne Storm’s season as NRL fans brace for one of the most heated preliminary finals in years.
The stage is set for Friday’s AAMI Park grudge match after Sharks coach Shane Flanagan declared his side would refuse to be bullied by the premiership favourites.
“We respect Melbourne, more than any other team in the competition,’’ Flanagan said.
“But we’re going down there for a massive battle and we’re not going to sit back and see what they do.
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“If they push, we’ll push back and whoever pushes the longest, is probably going to win.’’
The tension between the 2016 grand finalists was high yesterday.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy used his pre-game press conference to fire a shot at the Sharks, saying: “They’re telling us we’re the grubs.
“Most other clubs in the competition would be sitting back laughing about them calling us grubs.
“They’re trying to make out they’re holier-than-thou and they’re the squeaky-clean Sharks.
“Well, we all know better than that.”
Whether it was a motivational tactic from Bellamy to spark his players ahead of champion fullback Billy Slater’s final match in Melbourne remains unclear.
But Flanagan was bewildered by Bellamy’s strike.
“We didn’t call them the word (grub) they used in that comment,’’ Flanagan said.
“My comments were, that we’ll stand up to them. If they want to push, we’ll push back and I’m sure he (Bellamy) understands that.
“We’ve tried to model how consistent they are over the last couple of years.
“Since 2015 we’ve based ourselves on the Melbourne Storm and to be that top-four team, playing semi finals and grand finals.
“So we definitely wouldn’t disrespect them like that and call them that word which they’ve used.’’
It’s possible that Bellamy could’ve been referring to claims from Sharks forward Matt Prior, who said Melbourne practised ugly, niggling tactics.
“The little headlocks and arm grapples and all that little stuff, they’re pretty good at wrestling, they twist your arm, wrestle your head off. It’s all part of the game,” the NSW Origin prop said on Wednesday.
Either way, it’s just an additional chapter between the two fierce rivals ahead of another classic slug-fest, which the Sharks desperately want Gallen to be apart of.
Suffering torn ligaments in his shoulder in Cronulla’s elimination final win over Penrith, Gallen has hardly slept in the past seven-days with twice-daily physiotherapy and cortisone injections slowly aiding his recovery.
Gallen flew to Melbourne with every intention to play however the deadline to recover has proven to tight for the veteran.
The Sharks coach said that Luke Lewis will be elevated to captain and experienced forward Joseph Paulo will come into the final 17
Representative centre Josh Dugan (shoulder) could be a late inclusion.
“’Duges’ is very similar to Gal — we’ll give him until tomorrow, as well,’’ Flanagan said.
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