Melbourne Storm set to rest players in the lead-up to the finals after securing top-two spot

Yet again Melbourne Storm will finish in the top two and that opens the door for Craig Bellamy to pull some moves with his players before the finals.

Cameron Munster leaves the field for a HIA test. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

A cohort of Melbourne Storm players could be given the chance to rest in the run to the finals having all but locked up a top-two spot and possibly the minor premiership in Thursday night’s bruising away win over Penrith.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy said he had “some players” he’d like to give a break over the final three rounds, with a home match against the Dolphins before trips to North Queensland and Brisbane to round out the regular season.

Those three Queensland teams still have varying hopes to play finals and confronting an undermanned Storm outfit could work in their favour.

But with long trips before the finals, and having done enough to put themselves in a position to have a serious tilt at another premiership, Bellamy is prepared to think ahead to have the Storm primed for the playoffs.

“We have some players we would like to rest,” Bellamy said.

“Part of that will be in their opinions. Whether we go for one game or over three games, I am not quite sure what we’re going to do.

“But we will certainly look at doing that.”

Cameron Munster receives attention after a nasty head clash. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Star playmaker Cameron Munster suffered a heavy blow to the face from giant teammate Nelson Asofa-Solomona on Thursday night and was forced from the field.

Bellamy admitted that he was worried for the five-eighth when he lay on the ground for several seconds.

Munster passed a concussion test but it was the sort of incident Bellamy could avoid by keeping his best players out of the action over the next three games.

He said players would get some input, and Munster, who missed a large chunk of the season through injury, could be one looking to get more game time before the finals.

“We just need to see what we think as coaches and see what the players think their best preparation is,” Bellamy said.

“Sometimes you can rest them and lose a bit of momentum as well. We have done both over the years and there are some pros and cons.

“Sometimes it might be you give them a week off training and they come in for captain’s run.

“Those guys who really want to play will play because it will play with them mentally if we don’t.”

Having conceded in the lead-up to Thursday night that his team had struggled for consistency this season, despite sitting on top of the ladder, Bellamy walked away from Penrith with a clearer picture of what his team was capable of.

“We just wanted to see where we were at,” Bellamy said.

“To play them here, it’s a tough job. There were some tough periods in the game, but we seemed to come through them quite well.”

Originally published as Melbourne Storm set to rest players in the lead-up to the finals after securing top-two spot