Melbourne Storm coach’s admission sparks fierce backlash

A veteran journalist has been left seeing red after one coach’s eye-opening admission ahead of the final two rounds of the NRL season.

3 min read

August 27, 2024 - 7:49AM

Bellamy's comments didn't go down well

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has sparked fierce backlash over comments he made after securing the NRL’s minor premiership.

The Storm locked away top spot on the ladder with a win over the Dolphins with two games remaining in the 2024 season.

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In the wake of the round 25 victory, Bellamy let it be known he would be taking full advantage of the moment and getting rest into some key players ahead of the NRL finals.

“It will, yeah, without a doubt, we’ll be doing some resting this week,” Bellamy said

“We might even do a little bit in the last game (against the Broncos), but certainly this week.

“We’ve got a five-day turnaround into our longest trip of the season and the team we’re playing has had the bye so we’ll be resting a few players.

“Sometimes I don’t think that’s a real good look for the competition, but we’ve got to do what we think is right for us and we’ll do that.”

The admission from Bellamy however didn’t sit well with veteran journalist Phil Rothfield slamming the coach’s comments.

Bellamy's comments didn't go down well.

“I don’t like it at all. There’s talk they’ll (rest) ten players,” Rothfield said on NRL360.

“I understand there’s a premiership to win and they’ve had a tough, long slog all year.

I think when you sign up for your Foxtel or Kayo or however you consume rugby league, you don’t expect to watch second grade teams and that’s what they’ll put on the park this weekend.

“I think for the fans that come from remote areas in North Queensland, they travel up to six hours to watch a game of footy to see the likes of (Harry) Grant, (Ryan) Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Hughes play.

“I just think you’re ripping people off.”

Rothfield then argued that if the Storm are allowed to rest several players, why a team like South Sydney, who sit in 15th and are eliminated from finals contention, couldn’t do the same.

“Why don’t Souths – their season is done - why don’t they stand down players? They have two or three who need off-season surgery. Why don’t they stand down five-six players. Because they have an obligation,” Rothfield said.

The Rabbitohs’ season is over. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

That prompted NRL360 host Braith Anasta to fire back, implying that Rothfield’s Storm-Souths comparison was ridiculous.

“How can you compare Souths to Melbourne? The Storm have earned the right,” Anasta argued.

“They’ve won a minor premiership when no one thought they could. They’ve got into a position now where they have the luxury of resting their players because every fan and every player wants their team to win a comp.

“The Storm are getting rewarded for hard work, success and now get the luxury of preparing for the finals and winning a grand final. They aren’t going to go, ‘oh hang on, the North Queensland fans are going to be upset’, which they’re not because their team will probably win the game.”

Braith Anasta fired back at Buzz’s remarks. Credit: Fox Sports

Brent Read backed in Anasta’s comments and said the two teams couldn’t be compared when looking at resting players.

“You can’t draw a line between Melbourne and Souths. Souths owe their fans something, they owe their fans a performance because they’ve been poor this year and given what they’ve put down this season,” Read said.

“Melbourne don’t. They’ve given their fans a reward this year.”

Rothfield however stood firm on his stance and said the move to rest multiple players has an impact and that the game suffers from it.