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Will Bellamy rest players for Round 27?
Nicholas Quinlan • September 1st, 2025 1:25 pm
To rest players or not?
That is the question facing Craig Bellamy as the Melbourne Storm prepares for its final home and away game for the season.
Having suffered a 40-10 defeat to the Sydney Roosters last week at AAMI Park, the Storm have left the door ajar for the Bulldogs to potentially snag a top-two spot.
Despite having multiple outs through Harry Grant’s suspension and various players being rested, the result is still a shock, considering that they conceded all 40 of those points in the second half.
This has led Andrew McCullough to believe that the loss might be the catalyst to motivate the Storm in the finals.
“Boy oh boy, they would be a dangerous team to play in the first semi coming up,” he said on SENQ Breakfast.
“We all know the history with Melbourne, and in particular, Craig (is) when his team gets a drubbing like that, they react pretty strongly. Plus, they have got a couple of key players coming back from that team that was rested."
Some of the players who were rested that could make a return include Xavier Coates, Nick Meaney, Eli Katoa and Josh King.
Other outs for the side also include the likes of Dally M Medallist Jahrome Hughes, Jack Howarth and Tui Kamakimica, who could all potentially return to the starting line-up this week from injury.
And with the need to still secure a home qualifying final, McCullough believes that Bellamy will play a full-strength side to ensure they hold their spot in the top two and build form into finals.
“I reckon he will,” McCullough elaborated.
“I reckon he will bring out all of his players. I don’t think he will rest any players.
“I think he will be pretty upset by that result. He was pretty adamant that he was embarrassed.
“So, I dare say that he will put out his strongest team to perform well. (He will) not reward his team for the effort last week and rest more players, I believe anyway.”
The Storm will finish their home and away season against the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday.
SEN will have live coverage of the match available through its radio network and the SEN app.
