Craig Bellamy’s brilliant finals record has the Melbourne Storm in the box seat in their semi-final with arch rivals the Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park.
The Storm have lost their last three finals, but Bellamy has never overseen four finals losses in a row and have only once gone out of the finals in straight sets back in 2013.
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The Storm lost the 2021 preliminary final to the Panthers, the 2022 elimination final to the Raiders and last week’s qualifying final to the Broncos in their last three finals appearances.
But a loss to the Roosters on Friday night would be the first time in his NRL career as a head coach that he has lost four in a row.
The only other time Bellamy’s Storm have lost three finals in a row was in 2014 after they went out of the 2013 finals in straight sets with back-to-back losses to Souths and the Knights.
If the Roosters want to upset the Storm on their own turf at their AAMI park fortress they will have to do what no team has ever done and hand Bellamy his fourth straight finals defeat.
Finals fixture sees depleted outfits | 02:27
Helping the Roosters’ cause is that star playmaker Jahrome is out for the Storm with Tyran Wishart coming into the halves in jersey No.21 to partner Cameron Munster.
Bronson Garlick comes onto the bench with Alec McDonald making way on the pine.
Justin Olam has been recalled in the centres to replace Young Tonumaipea, who suffered a head injury against the Broncos.
Meanwhile, Reimis Smith returns from injury on the wing in place of the injured Xavier Coates.
For the Roosters Paul Momirovski and Corey Allan are the new centre pairing with Joey Manu (hamstring) and Billy Smith (jaw) ruled out with injury.
Jaxson Paulo replaces Joseph Suaalii (head knock) on the wing.
A clash preliminary final clash with the Panthers awaits the winner of this semi-final clash, while the losers have Mad Monday and can start planning for 2024.
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TEAMS (two to be ommited)
Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park, 7.50pm AEST
Storm team: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Marion Seve 4. Justin Olam 5. Reimis Smith 6. Cameron Munster 21. Tyran Wishart 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 15. Tom Eisenhuth 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Tariq Sims 19. Bronson Garlick Reserves: 18. Grant Anderson 20. Tepai Moeroa
Players cut: 7. Jahrome Hughes 14. Alec MacDonald 22. Sualauvi Faalogo
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Fetalaiga Pauga 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Corey Allan 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Fletcher Baker 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Siua Wong 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Sandon Smith 15. Egan Butcher 16. Terrell May 17. Angus Crichton 18. Drew Hutchison 19. Naufahu Whyte
Players cut: 20. Zach Dockar-Clay 21. Jake Turpin 22. Nathan Brown
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