Storm coach Craig Bellamy lashes critics opposed to his mass resting of players for Thursday night clash in Townsville

The Melbourne Storm coach left no doubt what he thought of those attacking his decision to rest 11 of his best players.

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy launched a staunch defence of his decision to rest two-thirds of his best line-up for Thursday’s clash with the Cowboys in Townsville, declaring the draw forced his hand and having the minor premiership locked up made it easier.

Amid some alarmist criticism that Bellamy was “ripping off” Townsville fans by leaving so many stars out, the coach said “it’s not my job to control who comes to the game and who doesn’t”.

With the minor premiership locked up, and taking the longest trip of the season coming off a five-day break following last week’s rout of the Dolphins in Melbourne, the Storm will play without 11 of last week’s side.

Jahrome Hughes, Harry Grant, Will Warbrick, Jack Howarth, Nick Meaney, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Josh King, Shawn Blore, Eli Katoa, Trent Loiero and Tui Kamikamica are all on ice, with only Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen, who have missed a chunk of football this season due to injury, suiting up.

Fresh faces (including three debutants!) set for the Cowboys! 👊@RedZedAustralia

— Melbourne Storm (@storm) August 27, 2024

But Bellamy declared he had no interest in the critics because his job was to do the best thing for his team to prepare for a tilt at another premiership. He said his team being given the arduous task so close to the finals demanded the action.

“Four of our last five games are away from home, so that means not jumping in your car and going 20 minutes for a game or, you know, 45 minutes. It means jumping in a plane,” he said on Townsville on Wednesday.

“I can understand people being critical of it (resting players), but at the end of the day, that’s what we think is going to work best for us.

“Townsville is our longest away game and on a five-day turnaround is the ideal time to do it (rest players). I don’t think that draw is ideal, so we’re trying to make the best out of it that we can and being the minor premiers and it happening so early, we didn’t expect that obviously, but this is what we think is the ideal time to do it.”

Bellamy conceded he could be taking a “bit of a chance” by leaving out so many players but it was a risk he was willing to take to preserve their fitness.

“It could be taking a bit of a chance with losing a bit of momentum with what we’ve got,” he said.

“But we’re pretty confident the best thing for our club and the best thing for our players at the moment is resting the guys that we’ve rested.”

Storm coach Craig Bellamy is happy to rest his players. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

He defied any suggestions he had an obligation to the game, and the fans, to field his best team.

“It’s not my job to rip anyone off and it’s not my job to control who comes to the game and who doesn’t,” he said.

“My job or our job is – I don’t make this on my own you know, these decisions I get some advice and opinions, but we think this is best for our club this time of year.”

With so many rested players, Storm will unveil three debutants in young playmaker Keegan Russell-Smith, prop Tristan Powell and Ativalu Lisati, a mid-season signing from Penrith.

Bellamy said they didn’t “give Storm jumpers away” and expected the trio to acquit themselves well enough.

Munster and Papenhuyzen will co-captain the Storm on Thursday night, with Bellamy declaring the pair of opposites could provide the perfect balance for his new-look team.

“I’m not quite sure what Munster’s going to come up with, but we’re just thinking him tossing the coin and then just shutting the hell up,” Bellamy joked.

“But, no, they’ve got the sort of roles of within the game that captains usually have, so they’ll share that.

“And I think we’ve got a good balance here I suppose with someone that thinks out of the square a bit or a lot and one that’s very steady. I think they’ll do a real good job.”

Originally published as Storm coach Craig Bellamy lashes critics opposed to his mass resting of players for Thursday night clash in Townsville