"MELBOURNE Storm does not want extra security for Friday night's clash at Parramatta despite rumblings the players can expect to be the target of aggrieved Eels fans.
Melbourne defeated Parramatta in last year's grand final but has since been exposed as cheating the salary cap and had the premiership stripped.
Eels fan websites have urged supporters to hurl abuse at Storm players before and during the match at Parramatta Stadium.
In an attempt to avoid trouble, Eels chief executive Paul Osborne sent an email to 10,000 members this week asking them not to abuse Storm players or fans.
"The players do not deserve abuse from any opposing club's supporters. This behaviour only tarnishes the reputation of the opposing club's supporter base," Osborne wrote.
But that hasn't stopped disgruntled Eels fans who are determined to let Storm know exactly how they feel.
Let the Parra fans play on Friday night and I'll play prop and head-high every scumbag Storm player," one supporter wrote on 1Eyed-Eel.
Another wrote: "I don't think there are many that truly understand the depth of hatred Eels fans feel towards this Storm club. I truly despise the bastards with every fibre of my being."
Storm will not stay in Parramatta, opting for the Homebush hotel it used before last year's grand final.
Storm football operations manager Frank Ponissi said the club was comfortable security arrangements provided by the home team would be enough.
"We are not taking any extra security and Parramatta will have the adequate levels as per normal games," he said.
"We have spoken to Parramatta and have every confidence in their arrangements."
Storm skipper Cameron Smith said the team was preparing for a "hostile reception" similar to the one the players received in Canberra in Round 9 when fans taunted them with $20 notes.
"They (Eels fans) are pretty fired up about it. But we can't control that," he said yesterday.
"But we look at it as a bit of motivation if the crowd is in to us. We're expecting quite a vocal crowd. But crowds always are against us when we travel, especially at Parra."
Smith was yesterday named to make his comeback from injury against the Eels.
Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Brett White and Jeff Lima were also recalled to the 18-man squad."
Haha... go boys. That's funny as, who was that?
On a different note... Although I'm sure most have a fair idea, I'm not sure everyone understands just how big the audience is here. Some of the stuff written makes everyone look silly to thousands of people.
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BTW, I fully stand behind my comments that the Storm players must have known they were cheating and that they ought to expect and deserve a very hostile reaction from the fans.
It was my blog that they got the comment from;
"Let the Parra fans play on Friday night and I'll play prop and head-high every scumbag Storm player"
so I guess need to be a little careful with what ppl post
Just on the storm fans, I wonder if the storms number 1 supporter Molly Meldrum will be at the game. Or maybe he is in Thailand again "covering" the red shirt protest story.
I don't want Cronk or any Storm player Parra. They are poison.