Storm coach Craig Bellamy tries to hose down Cooper Cronk talk ahead of prelim rematch
They have so much history together it can’t possibly be like any other game, but Craig Bellamy has done his best to hose down the hype as Melbourne prepare to face Cooper Cronk’s Roosters in the preliminary final.
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Storm coach Craig Bellamy is hopeful of being able to give reigning premiers Sydney Roosters “a run for their money” next Saturday night at the SCG.
Depending on the result, the preliminary final could double as former Storm legend turned Roosters premiership hero Cooper Cronk’s retirement swan song.
“I hope so,” Bellamy cheekily responded to a question about potentially ending Cronk’s career in the grand final qualifier.
“I’m sure he doesn’t.”
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Storm piled on seven unanswered tries in the 32-point rout, completing at 84 per cent to the Eels’ miserable 57 per cent.
Melbourne’s searching and aggressive runs battered the beleaguered Eels, who laid an extra 49 tackles and committed 14 errors.
The Roosters, however, will be anything but as clumsy next week.
“We know they’re (Roosters) one hell of a footy team and they’ve got some wonderful players,” Bellamy said.
“Especially in the key positions. We’ll know what we’re up against and hopefully we can go up there and give them a run for their money.”
Storm defended brilliantly, holding the Eels scoreless.
Bellamy admitted the “disappointment” of losing in week one of the finals spurred on the minor premiers in the build up.
We defended good last week too but I thought we were outstanding tonight,” Bellamy said.
“That side scored 58 points last week and some of the their attack was outstanding.”
Bellamy did not weigh into Cameron Smith being sent to the sin bin but predicted the Storm skipper would not get suspended.
“I didn’t have a close look at it but I think he (Eels Reed Mahoney) was hanging onto him and he (Smith) was trying to release the grip,” Bellamy said.
“I think he had two or three goes to whack the hand off.
“I wouldn’t imagine they’re going to suspend him for that.”