Record not our priority: Bellamy

STORM coach Craig Bellamy has declared Melbourne has “bigger fish to fry” as he implements a rotation policy that could clinch the club back-toback NRL premierships.

The Storm will be without a host of big guns when they chase rugby league history against the desperate Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium on Thursday night.

A win will deliver Melbourne a 19th straight victory, equalling the premiership record set by the Roosters in 1975.

But the ladder-leading Storm will have to do it without star players Jahrome Hughes, Dale Finucane, Brandon Smith and Justin Olam.

While Hughes and Finucane were ruled out due to concussion protocols, the Storm have devised a plan to rest their key players in the lead-up to the finals and aren’t worried about breaking records.

“It’d be a nice record to equal but we think we’ve got bigger fish to fry at the end of the season,” Bellamy (pictured) said.

“We’re taking this game as an opportunity to give some players a rest and try to do what we think is best for us ahead of the end of season games. It’d be a nice record but we’re not going to show all our cards.

“We’ve been pretty good at (resting players) the last couple of years.

“Trying to get guys like Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, Ryan Hoffman and those guys who were so integral to our team to have a game off was like pulling teeth.

“They’re a little bit easier now. Nowadays the guys see the value in resting up when they get an opportunity.”

With games against the Titans, Eels and Sharks to finish the season, the Storm are expected to give most of their best 17 a freshen up over the final rounds. “We will look at resting players over the next three weeks to ensure we are fit and fresh for the finals,” football chief Frank Ponissi said.