Slater spills beans on looming Bellamy tactic

Billy Slater understands the mind of Craig Bellamy better than most, and with the Storm having all but attained their third minor premiership in six years, the legendary fullback believes the coach will start to rest players in the lead-up to the finals.
With three rounds remaining in the regular season, the Storm are sitting two games clear on top spot on the league ladder.
In the run home, the Storm host the Dolphins on Saturday afternoon before making the trip to Townsville to face the Cowboys in round 26.
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The side will then complete their home and away campaign with a Thursday night match against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
With all three of their opponents still targeting a top-eight finish, none of these games are expected to be a cakewalk for Bellamy’s men. However, this does not concern Slater in the slightest.
Craig Bellamy (left) and Billy Slater embrace after the Storm’s 2017 NRL grand final triumph over the Cowboys. Gregg Porteous/NRL Imagery
Slater believes Bellamy could rest groups of players across the next two weeks, starting this weekend against the Dolphins before taking a B team to Townsville.
“[Bellamy has] already been vocal about thinking about resting players,” he told Nine’s The Billy Slater Podcast.
“He spoke about potentially resting a whole heap of players for one game or spreading it out over a couple of weeks.
“They’ve got their last home game against the Dolphins this week and given their position on the ladder, they might choose to do it this week and next week.
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“Especially [with] the Townsville trip — that’s a long way from Melbourne. It’s a four-hour flight going up there, playing in the heat.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Craig Bellamy rested his players there and potentially this week as well.
“I don’t think Craig Bellamy would like to rest many players in the last week of the season leading into the finals.”
After two weeks in a vulnerable state, Slater suspects the Storm will unleash on the embattled Broncos.
“Ladder position and health of your squad is really important but equally as important is the momentum [you have] going into the finals,” he said.
“Given it’s a Thursday night in Brisbane against the Broncos, you’ve got over a week to prepare for the first semi-final — I think Craig Bellamy would like to go into that Broncos game in round 27 fully fit and fully strengthened and go after the momentum.”
Coach Craig Bellamy of the Storm. Bradley Kanaris via Getty Images
But no matter Bellamy’s formula, Billy trusts the Storm will be in red-hot form come week one of the finals.
“Melbourne is only running at 80 per cent at the moment,” he said.
“They’ve got three weeks to really hit their straps and they’ve put themself in a really comfortable position on the ladder.
“You want to be playing your best football at the right time and I still feel the Melbourne Storm’s best football is in front of them.”