Cameron Munster and Josh Addo-Carr are both in some doubt to begin the NRL finals series for Melbourne.
The Storm secured the minor premiership without the injured duo and a host of other big names on Friday night. A strong second half was the difference in a 28-16 defeat of Cronulla.
Coach Craig Bellamy admitted he felt some players had been “waiting for finals” after some flat form in the final month of regular season and that Addo-Carr (hamstring) and Munster (knee) were concerns as the Storm focus their attention on defending their premiership title.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Justin Olam were both placed on report. Asofa-Solomona’s late contact in the final stages of the clash appeared innocuous but is bound to see him facing suspension if charged given his long lists of priors.
“I don’t know if we’ll have our best 17, might be one or two doubtful,” Bellamy said.
(Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“Josh, he will be touch and go I think… Cameron Munster has a little problem with his knee at the moment but we think he’ll be okay.”
The Storm lost just three games all season but only beat Penrith on points differential to claim the minor premiership, a loss to Parramatta last week denying them a record 20 straight NRL wins.
“I’m not sort of glad we lost (last week) but we’ve been down a little bit,” Bellamy said.
“It’s hard to stay up for a long time and we were up for a long time.
“Perhaps some of our experienced players were waiting for the finals to be quite honest.
“That might come back and bite me on the arse next week.
“But we’ve been looking forward to the finals for a fair bit and there’s various reasons for that… we’ve been living out of suitcases for two years (while based in their Sunshine Coast hub).
“Hopefully we can produce our best next week.”
© AAP
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Who are the hardest working big men in the NRL?
The Roosters coach wasn't happy after a number of controversial calls went against them in their loss to the Storm - does he have…
Death, taxes and the Storm defying pre-season predictions that this year will be the one when they slip down the ladder. Inevitably, seven rounds…
The Storm wasted their Captain's Challenge in the first four minutes against the Roosters with the Nine team left wondering if they even knew…
Ryan Papenhuyzen was pleading for James Tedesco to be sent for ten. Was the Roosters skipper lucky to stay on the field?
This could've been disastrous for the Storm. Jahrome Hughes looked to have earnt a penalty but the non-call snowballed with Cameron Munster soon sent…
