Storm's Quinn feels heat after shocker - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Storm's Quinn feels heat after shocker

By Melissa Woods 26/04/2011 06:17:50 PM Comments (0)

Veteran Storm winger Anthony Quinn is feeling the heat and not just from his fire-breathing NRL coach Craig Bellamy.

Quinn, along with fellow winger Matt Duffie and star fullback Billy Slater were in Bellamy's firing line after Melbourne's uncharacteristically sloppy first half, which led to their 18-14 shock loss to the Warriors on Anzac Day.

It was the Storm's first loss at home since round 14 last year, and their second for the season, slipping from first to third on the NRL table.

Duffie and Quinn failed to defuse bombs that led to the Warriors' first two tries.

"Our guys had a fair grab on both of those and in hindsight I think they should have been caught," Bellamy said.

"That happens sometimes but I think they got pretty clean catches to them and put them down so there's 12 points."

Bellamy has given his players a second chance, retaining the same line-up for Saturday night's clash with the Knights, also at AAMI Park.

Quinn, who joined Melbourne in 2007 from the Knights, knows he must do better.

The 28-year-old, who spent most of the past two seasons on the sidelines with some serious injuries, says he's never faced as much competition for starting spots in the Storm backline.

He's been keeping Justin O'Neill down in the reserves, however there's others in the race, with boom rookie Elijah Niko warming up with the side before the Warriors clash as 18th man.

"There's also Sisa Waqa, who's also been playing well in the reggies (reserves)," said Quinn of the giant Fijian.

"There's definitely a healthy competition there in the outside backs, it just makes everyone work a little bit harder.

"It keeps everyone on their toes."

Quinn wasn't able to pin-point the reason for Melbourne's off-key performance but said it would be quickly put aside with only a five-day turnaround before facing the Knights, who upset the Raiders in Canberra.

"There's no explanation for the dropped balls ... we had butter on our fingers and they slipped through.

"We'll review the match and look at the good and bad things and then we'll go into the Knights game with a clean slate."

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