Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy slammed Parramatta as disrespectful hypocrites after ending the Eels’ Cinderella run to the NRL grand final with a 23-16 premiership win at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
Bellamy blasted Parramatta for labelling the Storm as a “grubby” team despite having their own players – fullback Jarryd Hayne and hooker Matt Keating – escape suspension for acts that Melbourne had previously been accused of.
Hayne was cleared to play after receiving a grade one offence for a knee to the head, while Keating was also given the green light after accepting a grade one chicken wing tackle offence.
Bellamy lashed out at the Eels in a bitter aftermath to a thrilling grand final that saw the Storm claim their second premiership in three years.
“It made them look a bit hypocritical after what happened last week,” said Bellamy of the “grubby” accusations.
“They said it was a chicken wing two years ago, and young Keating got a grade one chicken wing last week for dislocating a bloke’s shoulder, for me that is pretty hypocritical.
“And I haven’t seen any of our blokes knee a bloke in the head when he scores a try either. We can say that now.
“For them to come out and label our club grubby I think shows a lack of respect. I was really disappointed in that to be quite honest.”
Skipper Cameron Smith was also critical of the comments from Parramatta’s new chief executive Paul Osborne, adding the accusations had been a motivator for the Storm players after years of similar taunts from NRL rivals.
“If anything it made us look forward to the game even more,” said Smith.
“I think Parramatta wanted to bring it out in the paper but they brought it out a week too late really. I don’t know why you would bring it out on grand final day.”
The Storm’s victory was also a massive silencer to the critics who suggested it was impossible to maintain a dominant reign in the salary cap era and had predicted Melbourne’s downfall in 2009.
“Without a doubt it’s nice to prove people wrong when they’re saying things when they’re not nice about you or not giving you a chance,” said Bellamy.
But, even the coach admitted, he was stunned by the club’s latest triumph.
“I did not see a grand final appearance let alone a grand final win eight or 10 weeks ago,” he said.
“To win tonight, as far as a coach goes this is the best feeling I’ve ever had.”
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