Stephen Kearney departure could lead to more Storm damage

THE rugby league gods haven't smiled on Melbourne lately and the Eels are intending to inflict even more pain tonight.

THE rugby league gods haven't smiled on Melbourne lately and Parramatta captain Nathan Hindmarsh has declared his team's intention to inflict even more pain tonight.

The Storm enter their clash with the Eels on a three-game losing streak and without their three leading try scorers and Hindmarsh said the Eels were determined to send departing coach Stephen Kearney out a winner.

Kearney, a former Storm captain and assistant to Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy, revealed yesterday he made the decision to resign as coach, unable to achieve what he wanted in less than two seasons in charge.

But he will continue in the hot seat tonight and Hindmarsh said the Parramatta players didn't want him to leave without a win.

"He is still our coach until the end of the weekend. We have planned all week and would love to send him out with a win," Hindmarsh said.

The Storm has been on the wrong end of a coach sacking before, losing to Newcastle in 2009 after Rick Stone replaced Brian Smith.

But while the theory goes that teams automatically win the game after a coach resigns or is sacked mid-season, only seven of 17 teams have won first-up following any upheaval since the NRL was re-born in 1998.

A rush of money for the Eels yesterday saw their odds were trimmed from $4.50 in to $4.10.

But more turmoil followed late yesterday with Eels coaching director and 1999 Storm premiership coach Chris Anderson quitting in the wake of Kearney's departure.

Melbourne remained firm $1.25 favourites for tonight's clash.