Debate has raged after Storm coach Craig Bellamy revealed that several Melbourne stars will be rested from the team’s match against the Cowboys this Thursday night.
The Storm locked away the minor premiership and the No. 1 spot following a win over the Dolphins last week so their last two regular season games against the Cowboys and Broncos essentially mean nothing in the context of the season.
Following the Dolphins win, Bellamy made no apologies when he said it was likely several players will sit out the Cowboys clash in Townsville.
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Speaking on NRL360, The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield disagreed wholeheartedly with the act of mass resting players, believing it’s not a good look for the game.
“I don’t like it at all. There’s talk they’ll (rest) ten players,” Rothfield said.
“I understand there’s a premiership to win and they’ve had a tough, long slog all year.
I think when you sign up for your Foxtel or Kayo or however you consume rugby league, you don’t expect to watch second grade teams and that’s what they’ll put on the park this weekend.
“I think for the fans that come from remote areas in North Queensland, they travel up to six hours to watch a game of footy to see the likes of (Harry) Grant, (Ryan) Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Hughes play.
“I just think you’re ripping people off.”
Rothfield then argued that if the Storm are allowed to rest several players, why a team like South Sydney, who sit in 15th and are eliminated from finals contention, couldn’t do the same.
“Why don’t Souths – their season is done – why don’t they stand down players? They have two or three who need off-season surgery. Why don’t they stand down five-six players. Because they have an obligation,” Rothfield said.
That prompted NRL360 host Braith Anasta to fire back, implying that Rothfield’s Storm-Souths comparison was ridiculous.
“How can you compare Souths to Melbourne? The Storm have earned the right,” Anasta argued.
“They’ve won a minor premiership when no one thought they could. They’ve got into a position now where they have the luxury of resting their players because every fan and every player wants their team to win a comp.
“The Storm are getting rewarded for hard work, success and now get the luxury of preparing for the finals and winning a grand final. They aren’t going to go, ‘oh hang on, the North Queensland fans are going to be upset’, which they’re not because their team will probably win the game.”
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Veteran journalist Brent Read agreed with Anasta.
“You can’t draw a line between Melbourne and Souths. Souths owe their fans something, they owe their fans a performance because they’ve been poor this year and given what they’ve put down this season,” Read said.
“Melbourne don’t. They’ve given their fans a reward this year.”
Rothfield wasn’t swayed though, sticking to the argument that the game suffers because of it.
“I don’t agree. They (Cowboys fans) probably only get one game every two years to see Grant and company,” he said.
“I don’t like coaches fielding reserve grade teams in an NRL competition.
“If we’re ok with Melbourne standing down players, everyone should. You’re putting an inferior product onto television and to the fans.”
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