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Bellamy takes his concerns to NRL

Posted by Mr 'BringBackFitzy' Analyst on September 5, 2017 at 4:50am
The fiery build-up to Saturday's qualifying final between Melbourne and Parramatta has ramped up another notch with Craig Bellamy taking his concerns about the Sydney club's defensive tactics to NRL referees boss Tony Archer on Monday.There is no shortage of tension between the minor premiers and the Eels, who finished the season fourth, ahead of their clash at AAMI Park, particularly between Bellamy and Parramatta coach Brad Arthur.The Storm mentor is still fuming at Arthur's suggestion following victory over South Sydney last Friday night that if the visitors were "allowed to play a bit of football we might be a chance" in Melbourne this weekend.The title favourites had anticipated a rival team complaining about their so-called smothering defence at some point in the finals but were surprised that the jab had come from someone who spent four years at the Storm and who they still regard south of the border as one of their own.RELATED ARTICLEFlying high: Parramatta are keen to get home quickly after their match against the Storm.Qantas rejects Eels' request to delay flight from MelbourneBellamy as a result has now gone to the NRL about his own issues with the way he believes Parramatta slow opposition attacking players down in their own 20-metre zone by going "to sleep" on them.He got in touch with Archer on a day in which Storm captain Cameron Smith backed his long-time coach's view on the Eels.By submitting your email you are agreeing to Fairfax Media's terms and conditions and privacy policy ."Craig looks at a lot of vision of all teams throughout the NRL. I don't look at it as much as he does," said Smith, preparing to break Darren Lockyer's all-time NRL appearances record in his 356th game on Saturday."I was away with Origin duties when we played against Parramatta so I haven't actually done any sort of preparation or review on their side. But if Craig makes those comments then I dare say he wouldn't be too far off the mark."If what the first-time finals coach was trying to do was get under Bellamy's skin then he may well be able to count it as a small victory. Bellamy has made his displeasure clear, saying of Arthur that if "he wants to fire a few shots off at us, well we'll be firing a few shots back".Smith, however, explained that Bellamy was simply fed up with opposition coaches insinuating that match officials needed to crack down on wrestling in the ruck in the lead-up to finals matches against his team. North Queensland coach Paul Green also angered Bellamy during last year's semi-finals when he called for the referees to show consistency in their interpretation of the ruck."I think maybe he just might be a little bit frustrated that it seems like every finals campaign that we enter into there is always something said about the way we play," Smith said of Bellamy."What did he say (on Saturday night)? 'It's the same song, different singer?' He's pretty much on the mark there, I reckon."Parramatta captain Tim Mannah, the only member of the Eels team who played in the club's previous finals game against the Storm in the 2009 grand final, was diplomatic about the situation on Monday."I think it's probably a bit of positioning by the coaches to kind of get the refs aware of a few things," Mannah said. "As players we're not really too concerned."
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  • 2agd8rk0gah1u September 5, 2017 at 5:58am
    Typical Bellyache response to get the referees on his side! He's a grubby tactics expert!
  • This reply was deleted.
    • Robert Lloyd September 5, 2017 at 8:27am

       Cory Hughes : Agree. It is risible that Bellamy is complaining about this. He has introduced every foul tactic since he took over at the Storm--chicken wing, grapple etc. What BA should remind the NRL is that spectators and TV viewers are staying away from games in droves in 2017. The Eels have been getting better crowd numbers as they proceed to the finals. To get their crowd numbers up the NRL need the Eels in the Grand Final. Over to you NRL.

      Let Bellamy know this. They will need to carry him out comatosed which would be no bad thing.

  • Nidge September 5, 2017 at 6:13am

    Waaaaaaaaahhhh! "They're laying too long on players Tony". Fekking cry baby! He invented this shite tactic. I really want us to bash them now.

    • Alistair Shaw > Nidge September 5, 2017 at 6:30am
      " It's not fair Tony (sniff wah) they're copying us. (Sniff waaah sniff) tell them to stop copying me"
  • Nitram September 5, 2017 at 7:17am
    After we were so dominate in 2001 the NRL changed the rules to combat Brian Smith's tactics. We were effectively playing touch football with quick play the balls etc all before dominate and surrender calls eventually came about. We were so good at it that they had to change the rules to combat our tactics to even out the competition again. So I ask why don't the NRL change the rules to stop Melbourne's ruck domination? Double standards.
    • John Eel > Nitram September 5, 2017 at 7:30am

      It is the referees trying to game manage that is the cause of the refereeing issues. Bill Harrigan said as much on the Matty Johns show last week. It ends up with different teams getting pinged for different things in the same game. The Eels get penalised a lot in their own 20. Kenny Edwards gets penalised every time he is in a tackle and the ball comes loose. I am sure every team can give examples of how badly they are done by.

      Just referee to the rules, referee all teams the same and eliminate the tactics to slow the PTB.

  • Mitchy September 5, 2017 at 7:30am
    Bellamy is the reason the game has been boring; ruck dominance; wrestle; holding up players with the ball. Call it great tactics but for me the game when Melbourne is involved is wrestle and ruck; watch games between Cows and Brisbane and its football.
  • josh jones September 5, 2017 at 7:38am
    I reckon if both teams are allowed to slow the ruck then storm get the advantage. I say we don't slow it down and give ref no choice but to penalise storm. Could back-fire though.
  • Wizardssleeves official receipts September 5, 2017 at 7:41am
    It's just a shame we got caught rorting the cap . Nothing would've been more satisfying than dragging up how they stole the last premiership from us .
  • Alistair Shaw September 5, 2017 at 7:42am
    After Bellamys post match rant and now a second effort to see Archer, are the Eels the team that concerns Bellamy?
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