Storm brews over US Test
MELBOURNE Storm coach Craig Bellamy has slammed the timing of the Denver Test, which has seen several NRL teams unsure if their Kiwi players will be available for this round.
The Storm is preparing for their Friday night clash with the Sydney Roosters in Adelaide with Bellamy saying he had no clue where prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona was or when he will arrive home.
“I don’t know what the hell is going on to be quite honest,” Bellamy said yesterday.
“I don’t know when he’s going to be back, whether he’s back for the game or not.
“There’s a big chance he won’t even play.”
While issues with flights have delayed the return of the Kiwi players, Bellamy questioned why the Test between New Zealand and England couldn’t have been held at the end of the NRL season.
“I’m not quite sure why they had this Test at this time of the year. It’s not my decision but it’s not ideal to have guys playing over there so far away and then be late back for our game.”
The Storm is desperate to have Asofa-Solomona back following news that fellow prop Sam Kasiano is out for up to 10 weeks after rupturing his PCL, while Jesse Bromwich and Dale Finucane are also sidelined.
The Roosters’ Isaac Liu and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves are also due to play on Friday night giving them just two days back in the country to prepare.
“Nelson is a fairly important part of our team, so not to have him back because he can’t get a plane back from the other side of the world,” Bellamy said.
Dragons coach Paul McGregor has said he’ll take a cautious approach with team selection for the Eels clash, given the effects of their heavy representative load.