Melbourne hope to have influential skipper Cameron Smith back on deck for next week’s clash with Gold Coast after having their unbeaten start to the NRL season ended in a “rubbish” showing in his absence.
Smith was a last-minute scratching from Saturday night’s 40-12 loss to Canterbury in Perth after his backed seized up in the warm-up.
The Storm started brightly enough, racing to an early 10-0 lead after star halfback Cooper Cronk laid on tries for Billy Slater and Will Chambers.
Then the competition leaders capitulated, conceding seven unanswered tries.
Cronk and coach Craig Bellamy refused to blame Smith’s absence, the short turnaround and long trek across the country after Monday night’s match against Newcastle or the club’s turbulent week for the loss.
“It certainly didn’t help us. But, at the end of the day, it is just one guy,” Bellamy said.
Bellamy labelled the Storm’s last hour as “rubbish” and Cronk backed up his coach’s damning assessment, agreeing the difficult week for the club had nothing to do with it.
Melbourne youngster Jordan McLean’s tackle on Alex McKinnon on Monday night left the Knights back-rower with a broken neck.
McLean was left distressed by the tragic injury and was only cleared to play in Saturday’s game on Thursday, with his dangerous throw charge to be heard next Wednesday.
“Difficult conditions, difficult circumstances all week, but it’s no excuse. We performed badly,” Cronk said.
“It was a sometimes performance. We started really well but, subconsciously, I think it gave us a false sense of security.
“We really took ownership of our roles in the first 20 minutes but, subconsciously, the little man on our shoulders, thought well wait for someone else to do it in the next 60.
“I’ve been part of this club for a long period of time and that’s not how we like to play football.”
Cronk couldn’t pinpoint the specific reason behind the performance, but insisted the McKinnon tragedy had no impact on him personally.
“I can only speak for myself but I was in the right mindset to play football,” said the reigning Dally M Medallist.
“I knew my role, I competed.”
Canterbury’s win, inspired by a wholehearted performance from prop James Graham and classy displays from halves Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson improves the Bulldogs’ record to 2-2 after a disappointing two-point loss to Penrith.
“It’s better than 1-3,” said coach Des Hasler said.
“This week for us was about consolidating. There was a bit of frustration last week.
“Against a great football team, to score the points we scored, come from 10-0 down, pull that back and then go on with it and keep them to only two tries, is a really good confidence booster.”
The only downer for the Bulldogs was an ankle injury to forward Frank Pritchard that could keep him out of Friday night’s clash with the Sydney Roosters.
