Bellamy only has eyes for Storm players - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Bellamy only has eyes for Storm players

By Melissa Woods 08/05/2009 05:44:05 PM Comments (0)

NSW Origin coach Craig Bellamy says he'll only have eyes for his Melbourne players, who will line up against a host of Blues wannabes in the Sydney Roosters on Monday night.

Former NSW players Willie Mason, Braith Anasta and Craig Fitzgibbon were surprisingly left out of the Blues 40-man provisional squad as well as the City-Country clash in Orange, which doubled as an Origin trial.

Sydney Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce made the NSW squad but was controversially omitted from the City Origin team, while forward Mark O'Meley only received a late call-up for City.

With the first encounter with Queensland looming on June 3 in Melbourne, the star five will be desperate to impress Bellamy when they take on his side in Gosford on Monday night.

However, Bellamy said any NSW obligations would be put aside during the game and he wouldn't be viewing the match as another Blues' trial.

"I'll be checking out my players," Bellamy said.

"I'll have my Melbourne cap on, it will be all about Melbourne.

"If I have to have a look at some of the Roosters performances it will be by tape after that game."

The Roosters are in 12th place on the NRL table with only three wins this season.

However, that is only one victory less than 2008 grand finalist Melbourne have accrued in sixth position.

"I've watched the last couple of games and I thought they were really good in the first half against Warriors and then the Warriors got a couple of tries off bombs which cost them a win over there.

"They were pretty effective last week against Cronulla.

"I don't think they're in poor form, they might not be going as well as they hoped but I think a few other sides are in that boat as well."

The Storm are taking a complete 17-man squad from Melbourne to Gosford, where their Australian and City-Country players will meet them.

Bellamy said he wouldn't hesitate to replace any of his stars if they weren't 100 per cent.

That means players such as forwards Hep Cahill, Ryan Tandy and Louis Fanene could make their Storm first grade debut.

"We'll pick the players who can do the job best for us on Monday night,

"If we think the rep games take a fair bit out of one of our players and they can't do what we need of then we'll put someone else there.

"We have 17 players looking forward to Monday night if they get the chance."

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