Storm making most of week’s break

Consecutive defeats of fellow top four sides North Queensland, Brisbane and the Sydney Roosters means a week’s break may have come at the worst possible time for Melbourne.

But coach Craig Bellamy is happy to trade the possibility of risking winning momentum for a fully fit team in their preliminary final.

The Storm have three major injury concerns stemming from their upset qualifying win over the Roosters in winger Marika Koroibete, backrower Tim Glasby and prop Jordan McLean.

Bellamy said the week off meant that trio were a chance to recover for their grand final qualifier against either the Cowboys or Sharks.

“I think everyone would take the week off if they could get it,” Bellamy said.

“Obviously there is a bit of a theory there about losing your momentum you can look at it two ways.

“After what happened last week with a couple of injuries we got the week off is going to be really handy for us – our other players get a rest as well.”

While Glasby and McLean have knee trouble, Koroibete is the most doubtful.

The Fijian flyer needed 12 stitches to a cut on his achilles, suffered during their win over the Roosters.

Bellamy said Koroibete was still a possibility to play but it would depend on when he could resume running.

“It’s a nasty old cut and it’s in a bad spot as far as his running so we’ll just have to see how he goes,” Bellamy said.

“It will probably be next week before we know.”

Those players were bystanders as the Storm held an opposed training session on Thursday afternoon at AAMI Park, simulating conditions for their preliminary final at the venue on Saturday week.

The long, tough session was part of a carefully planned week designed to keep the players “up” during the week off.

“We have got some momentum but I know if we were playing this week, we would be playing without three of our players so we’ve just got to make the most of that week off and try to keep that momentum going,” Bellamy added.

Meanwhile, the coach is considering activating a clause in his contract that will see him stay head coach until the end of 2018.

Bellamy is out of contract at the end of next season but isn’t ruling out another two seasons after steering the club into a preliminary final.

The coach plans to settle his future in the off-season but won’t make a decision based on emotion.

“If you make a decision during the bad times, you’re probably going to pull the pin and vice versa.

“If I had to make a decision last Friday night (after the qualifying win) I’m probably going again, so you just have to make sure you think about it long and hard.”

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