NRL: Bellamy supports fringe players

Craig Bellamy. Photo / Getty Images

MELBOURNE - Storm coach Craig Bellamy says he's sympathetic to the plight of his fringe players and intends giving them as much game time as possible with their NRL futures on the line.

Bellamy was delighted for his team after a 18-10 win over Penrith following three successive losses and after the salary cap fall-out.

The team went into the AAMI Park match on the back of the news three players, Ryan Hoffman, Brett Finch and Jeff Lima were to join Super League club Wigan at season end, while superstar Greg Inglis was almost a certainty for Brisbane.

"We tried really hard and our execution at times wasn't great and I suppose it is hard to play 100 per cent at times when you're not quite sure about your future and there's other things happening around the club but I was really proud of them again," Bellamy said.

"Some people just don't know how hard it is to be playing at the moment but I think they're doing a wonderful job for the club and finally we got a little bit of reward for a lot of effort in the last month."

Bellamy rested New Zealand international Lima for the Panthers match to give young prop Jesse Bromwich a run, and intends to continue the pattern in the remaining rounds.

With players unsure if they can remain with the Storm as the club looks to cut more than $1.3 million to get under the cap for next season, Bellamy will attempt to help them shore up their future with Melbourne, or another NRL club.

"If we can do that we will but it's a bit of a balance," he said.

"We want to do the right thing by the team and give ourselves the best chance at the weekend but at the same time if anyone's in that situation we'll give them time, or give them a game.

"We want to have a look at a couple more young blokes like we did with Jesse Bromwich, plus there's a couple of guys who need a rest so next week we'll be looking to give a couple more young guys a run."

Storm skipper Cameron Smith said that didn't mean opposing teams could expect an easy time against his side.

"That's [contracts] not part of our focus, it's to train the best we can and when we pull our jumper on it's going out to play the best we can for our club and after that's over, that's when we start worrying about that stuff."

- AAP