A shot throughout the bow from former teammate Brandon Smith calling Melbourne Storm’s first-up finals effort “putrid” hasn’t rattled the cages of Craig Bellamy’s males.
Instead, they’ve put up their arms and brought accountability for the Brisbane shutout and vowed a large turnaround once they confront Smith and his Roosters in a do-or-die remaining on Friday night time.
Storm playmaking normal Cameron Munster was unaware of the post-match feedback from his premiership teammate after the Roosters secured their second spherical match-up in Melbourne and was fast to dismiss them.
Watch each recreation of The 2023 NRL Telstra Finals Series earlier than the Grand Final Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo Sports. Join now and begin streaming immediately >
Shook Bellamy speaks on Papenhuyzen | 06:38
But he wasn’t going to neglect the sledge both.
“Did he say that?” Munster responded on Monday when informed of Smith’s appraisal of the 26-0 loss to Brisbane
“He pretty much says whatever comes off the top of his head, a little bit like myself.
“But we’ll see who has the last laugh on Friday.”
Storm hooker Harry Grant, who will go head-to-head with Smith on Friday night time, mentioned the Roosters rake most likely summed up Melbourne’s efficiency effectively.
“It was a very poor performamce and he’s a character of the game so you don’t want to deter him from speaking the truth,” Grant mentioned.
“It’s funny the way the script has panned out for him, coming back for a final against Melbourne Storm. We know the player he is and what he’s capable of.”
Munster and his fellow members of Storm’s backbone – halfback Jahrome Hughes, Grant and fullback Nick Meaney – received collectively within the aftermath of the lacklustre defeat and all took their very own share of the blame.
Bellamy mentioned Storm appeared like a “bunch of blokes thrown together”, as they struggled to muster any attacking threats and Munster blamed the poor connection between the playmakers.
That evaluation ensured a player-led turnaround for Friday’s must-win semi-final as Storm stare down a 3rd finals loss in 4 post-season matches since their 2020 grand remaining triumph.
Munster decided the necessity for himself and Hughes to get their arms on the ball extra typically could be essential to maintain their finals marketing campaign alive.
READ MORE
HOOPS: Why NRL should clear Wighton on biting cost
TEAM TIPS: Roosters’ disaster deepens amid finals harm chaos; Storm’s large headache
Walsh STARS in large Broncos’ win | 02:52
“We’ve gone over some things we need to get better at, and we just need to get involved a little bit more,” Munster mentioned.
“You see the likes of Nicho Hynes and Nathan Cleary, they get the ball in their hands a little bit more.
“Myself and Hughesy are probably doing about half of that at the moment. That’s one area we can improve.”
Changes are coming for Storm following Ryan Papenhuyzen’s horribly damaged ankle and winger Xavier Coates being in a moon boot on Monday after hurting his ankle towards the Broncos.
Coates is but to be formally dominated out, however the door has opened for the likes of skilled centres Justin Olam and Reimis Smith to power their approach again into the crew.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
