Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy ready to swing selection axe after Raiders rout Storm 40-12

CRAIG Bellamy forecast personnel changes to the Storm after a humbling by Canberra, but ruled out an emergency SOS to Billy Slater.

MELBOURNE Storm coach Craig Bellamy forecast several personnel changes to his side after last night's humbling by Canberra but said an emergency SOS to Billy Slater wasn't in his plans.

Things don't get any easier for Storm after last night's loss with a showdown against the red-hot North Queensland Cowboys at AAMI Park this Saturday.

Bellamy didn't shy away from saying that several players faced the chop for the clash but said he didn't think injured fullback Slater was ready to be called on just yet.

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"I think Bill will be struggling to get back next week. And we're certainly not going to make a snap reaction and bring him back because of what happened," Bellamy said.

"He'll be 100 per cent when he comes back and if that's another week or two weeks, that's what we'll do.

"I'm pretty sure there will be some changes though."

Bellamy wouldn't elaborate as to who could be in the gun but said the Raiders certainly found some "chinks" in Storm's armour after penetrating the backline, on both sides of the field, with ease.

"The Raiders played really well, they controlled the ball and attacked parts of our team where they had a lot of success," he said

"They were pretty relentless with that and found some chinks, kept going there, and kept finding more chinks.

"We have a lot of work to do. I'm pretty much sure there are going to be a few changes."

Gallery: Top snaps from the match

Bellamy said he had decided even before last Wednesday's Origin match that his captain Cameron Smith would miss the game, and that he almost rested halfback Cooper Cronk as well.

The coach said the entire Origin period had been taxing on his team, but didn't explain last night's result.

"I think it is very tiring for our players and that puts a bit of extra pressure on other players at the club, there is a little bit more for them to do," he said.

"It would have had an effect, but not that sort of effect. "

Cronk, who conceded to being very tired after his second 80-minute effort in five days, also dismissed fatigue as a reason for the loss and said everyone would work hard to atone next week.

"This game is a tough, uncompromising game and the way the season is structured Origin is a joy to play and you want to be proud and back up for your club as well," he said.

"It's a tough period, it's over now, but we might have some more hard work to do in the next few weeks.

"Even though it's a disappointing night I'm confident we can move forward from here. "

A corked bicep to Dane Nielsen was Storm's only injury concern to come out of the game.

RAIDERS 40 (E Lee 3 S Earl 2 J Croker B Ferguson R Robinson tries J Croker 4 goals) bt MELBOURNE 12 (J O'Neill 2 tries G Widdop  2 goals) at AAMI Park. Referee: Gerard Sutton, Adam Devcich. Crowd:  12,214.