NRL 2021: Craig Bellamy lifts lid on Melbourne Storm rotation policy

While equalling a 46-year-old record on would be ‘nice’, Melbourne Storm have their eyes on the biggest prize of all.

Storm super coach Craig Bellamy has declared Melbourne has “bigger fish to fry” as he implements a rotation policy that could clinch the club back-to-back NRL premierships.

The Storm will be without a host of big guns when they chase rugby league history against the desperate Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium on Thursday night.

A win against the Titans will deliver Melbourne a 19th straight victory, equalling the premiership record set by the Roosters in 1975.

The race to the 2021 NRL Telstra Finals Series is on and every game matters. Watch Live & Ad-Break Free on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free >

Storm will be resting some key players this weekend.

But the ladder-leading Storm will have to do it without star players Jahrome Hughes, Dale Finucane, Brandon Smith and Justin Olam.

While Hughes and Finucane were ruled out due to concussion protocols, the Storm have devised a plan to rest their key players in the lead-up to the finals and aren’t worried about breaking records.

“It’d be a nice record to equal but we think we’ve got bigger fish to fry at the end of the season,” Bellamy said.

“We’re taking this game as an opportunity to give some players a rest and try to do what we think is best for us ahead of the end of season games.

“It’d be a nice record but we’re not going to show all our cards.

“We’ve been pretty good at (resting players) the last couple of years.

“Trying to get guys like Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, Ryan Hoffman and those guys who were so integral to our team to have a game off, was like pulling teeth.

Craigh Bellamy refuses to ‘play all his cards’ over the next three rounds.

“They just didn’t want to miss any games. It was a pretty hard job for me to convince them to have a game off. They pride themselves on playing games every week.

“They’re a little bit easier now. Nowadays the guys see the value in resting up when they get an opportunity.”

With games against the Titans, Eels and Sharks to finish the season, the Storm are expected to give most of their best 17 a freshen up over the final three rounds.

That means the likes of Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, Josh Addo-Carr, Christian Welch, Felise Kaufusi and Jesse and Kenny Bromwich could find themselves sitting on the sidelines at some stage.

“We will look at resting players over the next three weeks to ensure we are fit and fresh for the finals,” Storm football chief Frank Ponissi said.

“Don’t get me wrong, we are proud of the winning streak, but the record is honestly not our focus. We want to be fit and healthy for the first week of the finals, that’s our main focus.

“We are still debating how we go about it. Last year we rested pretty much the whole side against the Dragons, but we might look at spreading it out across the three weeks and rest a few guys each week rather than in one hit.

Josh Addo-Carr could be among nthe players set for a rest in coming weeks.

“Breaking the record is not going to get in the way of us being ready for the finals.

“With the finals to be played in Queensland this year, it doesn’t matter if you finish first or fourth really, all the games will be here in Queensland so there’s no true home ground advantage.

“It’s not the end of the world if we lose one but we’d rather not lose another game to be honest.”

While the Storm have not lost since Round 3 (12-10 to Penrith), their last two wins against Manly (28-18) and Canberra (26-16) have not been as convincing as their dominance during the streak.

Bellamy said the State of Origin hangover and injuries had presented hurdles for the Storm to overcome, but he was confident of his team firing on all cylinders when the finals roll around.

“We’ve had a few guys out and coming off the Origin period,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter what side they’re on or the result for the series, they always come back a little bit flat. They hit it three or four weeks after it.

Craig Bellamy concedes Melbourne haven’t been firing on all cylinders recently.

“There’s been a few things to manage but we haven’t played as we would have liked in a couple of games. The players are very aware of that but we’ve still found a way to win which is a good sign.

“Hopefully we can freshen a few guys up and be physically and mentally fresh towards the end of the year.

“This group of guys will work hard and do what they have to do to be at our best in three weeks’ time.”

Why NRL’s most deadly alliance could reign for years

Melbourne have tabled a long-term extension to Brandon Smith as the Storm look to close the door on a number of potential suitors, including the Broncos and this week’s rivals, the Titans.

The NRL premiers have begun negotiations on a three-year upgrade to keep Smith in Melbourne until 2025 in the lead-up to Thursday night’s clash against the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium.

Speculation is rife Smith is poised to quit the Storm, with the Titans consistently linked with the Kiwi Test ace, while the Bulldogs are eyeing off the 25-year-old to spearhead their Belmore revolution.

The Broncos are also considering their hooking options and will have more cash to spend under the salary cap at the end of next year, when Smith‘s current Melbourne deal expires.

But the Storm insist the blockbusting ball-runner is going nowhere, tabling a new deal to ensure the utility forward dynamo stays loyal in the post-Cameron Smith era.

The Melbourne Storm want to re-sign Brandon Smith. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

The Titans have braced for missing out on Smith by signing Melbourne’s third-string hooker Aaron Booth to boost their dummy-half stocks.

A product of Palm Beach Currumbin on the Gold Coast, Booth, 25, has played six NRL games and will join the Titans next year.

The Titans have a high opinion of hooker Erin Clark but are yet to offer off-contract veteran Mitch Rein a new deal.

Smith, 25, has been in sensational form this season, scoring 10 tries in 20 games for the Storm.

He will be rested for the Titans game as Storm coach Craig Bellamy looks to freshen up his team as they chase back-to-back premierships.

Storm football chief Frank Ponissi said the club was not concerned about speculation linking Smith to rival clubs.

“All that speculation comes from outside the club, we’re not worried about the external noise,” he said.

Brandon Smith has scored 10 tries for the Storm this year. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

“Brandon will be off contract next year like any player, but he has indicated he wants to stay and we want to keep him so we said let‘s do a deal.

“We will work together with Brandon to make sure we keep him here beyond next year.

“Like any club, you try not to lose your best players and Brandon is in great form. He is really happy off the field here and that’s reflected in his form on the field.

“Brandon is very determined to have a big finals series and that’s his immediate focus, but we’re confident he will stay at the Storm.”

Smith was expected to seek an exit from the Storm due to the rise of Queensland Origin hooker Harry Grant following Cameron Smith’s retirement.

Brandon Smith has struck up a combination with Harry Grant. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

But the Smith-Grant alliance has proven to be a deadly combination for Melbourne, with Bellamy finding a way to make two of the NRL’s top hookers fire in the one team.

That could see Smith commit his future to the Storm, with Ponissi declaring the Kiwi dynamo was becoming a leader at Melbourne.

“Brandon is very happy here and he is the heart and soul of the joint,” he said.

“His leadership levels have gone to another level.

“Brandon is the ultimate prankster, he plays up to a lot of the contract talk and thrives on it.

“When we finish the season, we will get serious about keeping Brandon at the club.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Craig Bellamy lifts lid on Melbourne Storm rotation policy