Melbourne forward Eliesa Katoa was sin-binned and put on report for a hit on Brisbane fullback Tristan Sailor that could have ramifications for their finals campaign.
The independent doctor ruled that Sailor did not need to go off for an HIA, suggesting he was not hit high with any force. The Storm are hoping that scenario will play out well for them with the match review committee when they investigate the incident that occurred in the 61st minute of their 50-12 thrashing of the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
“We will be able to use that to our advantage I would imagine,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.
“From where I was sitting I didn’t think it was too bad and I was surprised that he went to the bin.”
Bellamy had good news about first choice fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, who suffered bone bruising to his leg in last week’s loss to North Queensland.
Papenhuyzen is on track to play the first week of the finals after his replacement Sua Fa’alogo tweaked a hamstring against Brisbane.
“At a pinch Paps could have played this week but we didn’t want to take that risk,” Bellamy said.
“We didn’t want him to pull up sore and not train all next week leading into the finals so we thought that was the best way to go.
“The medical staff seem to think Paps will be fine for next week.”
Bellamy said Fa’alogo felt “a pop” in his hamstring but there was hope it was not as bad as first thought.
The pocket rocket, who will go for scans, ran for 208m and had two try assists in a dynamic 57-minute display. He would be a dangerous bench option later in the finals if he can recover.
“He is a great runner of the footy and like lightning,” Bellamy said.
Sua Fa'alogo stuck his tongue out and thought he got away here! ????
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“The more games we can get him the more he is going to learn about the game and the better player he will be.”
The Storm have had injuries like all clubs this season, including missing star No.6 Cameron Munster for 10 weeks in the middle of the year with a groin problem, but still managed 19 wins to finish top of the table.
“The guys that have come in have done such a good job, like Wishy (Tyran Wishart), Grant Anderson and Jack Howarth,” Bellamy said.
“They have really performed. Sometimes you put a player in and he is not ready for first grade but these guys after a week or two have grabbed the opportunity, run with it and made a success of it.”
Bellamy has won three premierships as Storm coach and is in a strong position to challenge for a fourth.
“You would love to win a grand final,” he said. “They are hard to win and hard to get to. You have to do a lot of things right. Hopefully we can play our best footy in the next month.”
The Storm will host a qualifying final next week against the fourth-placed team.
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Knights gear up for all possibilities
In music to Ricky Stuart and Shane Flanagan’s ears, Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien says he is preparing his side to go 90 minutes in their winner-takes-all clash with the Dolphins.
The winner of Knights-Dolphins is guaranteed a spot in the NRL finals, but if it ends in a draw that honour will go to whoever is victorious out of Saturday’s encounter between Stuart’s Raiders and Flanagan’s Dragons.
After the Knights and the Dolphins both scored big wins in their penultimate-round wins against Gold Coast and Brisbane, respectively, O’Brien thinks Sunday’s game will go down to the wire.
“I think it’ll be much tighter,” he said.
“Well, that’s the way we’re preparing for it. If it takes 90 minutes, then so be it. We’re in for the long haul.”
Dane Gagai’s kicking game was all that separated the two sides in their earlier meeting this season, with both teams scoring three tries apiece in the Knights’ 18-14 triumph.
Newcastle have the home-ground advantage but there are scant clues to pick a favourite.
Both sides sit on 28 competition points after 11 wins and 12 losses, with the Dolphins’ superior for-and-against giving them a momentary edge on the ladder.
Given what’s on the line, the sell-out McDonald Jones Stadium crowd could be set for a thrilling finish.
“It’ll be two teams very similar in styles going at it,” O’Brien said.
“Both teams like a high completion rate game. It’d be good to be sitting on the hill on Sunday afternoon watching these two teams go at it for a result that’s really important to both clubs.”
The 46-year-old is looking for another powerful performance from second-rower Brodie Jones, who set up a try and made 115 metres with the ball against the Titans.
O’Brien scuppered speculation the off-contract Hunter junior could be squeezed out of the Newcastle set-up because of an overabundance of forward talent.
“Absolutely,” O’Brien said when asked if Jones would be at the club next year.
“He’s done a hell of a job. Local boy, come through our system, developed him. Yeah, he’s someone that we’re really proud of with where he’s got to on his journey, and I know that he would want to stay as well.”
with AAP
The Roarhttps://https://ift.tt/VBQiDs9 News: Storm sweat on Katoa’s judiciary verdict, O’Brien ready for anything in playoff for final spot
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