Bellemy praises selectors
-
Super Cronk
- Site Manager
- Posts: 9191
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 10:15 am
- Location: NSW
Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy yesterday said Scott Hill's place in the Australian rugby league squad was just reward for the star five-eighth, whose career has been curtailed by injuries.
A 25-man squad, whose main task will be a tri-nations series against New Zealand and Great Britain, was named yesterday, with the side dominated by players from traditional power Brisbane Broncos (six), premiers Canterbury Bulldogs (four) and grand finalist Sydney Roosters (four).
But Bellamy said it was no surprise that Hill, who was added to the train-on squad last month, made the tour after a largely injury-free season allowed him to regain some of his best form and a place in the NSW country team.
He said Hill, who has played four Tests for Australia, the most recent in 2002, had shown great consistency this season, with his strengthening partnership with half-back Matt Orford leading the Storm to the semi-final, in which it was beaten 43-18 by eventual premier Canterbury.
"He's a class player . . . when he does play rep footy he seems to play really well, so I think the selectors remember those sort of things," Bellamy said.
He also said full-back Billy Slater would visit a specialist today to determine what treatment he would have for a groin injury that substantially worsened during the latter part of the season.
Slater, who scored a magical try to lead Queensland to victory in the second State of Origin match this year, was named in the Kangaroos' train-on squad last month, but withdrew in favour of having surgery.
"It would have been a great education and a great experience for him, but at the end of the day he is very mindful of his long-term future and he can do some major damage if he trains and plays too much at the moment," Bellamy said.
"He just can't go away with an Australian squad and train like he has done with us . . . and to his credit he realises that and he had the main say in making that decision."
theage.com.au
A 25-man squad, whose main task will be a tri-nations series against New Zealand and Great Britain, was named yesterday, with the side dominated by players from traditional power Brisbane Broncos (six), premiers Canterbury Bulldogs (four) and grand finalist Sydney Roosters (four).
But Bellamy said it was no surprise that Hill, who was added to the train-on squad last month, made the tour after a largely injury-free season allowed him to regain some of his best form and a place in the NSW country team.
He said Hill, who has played four Tests for Australia, the most recent in 2002, had shown great consistency this season, with his strengthening partnership with half-back Matt Orford leading the Storm to the semi-final, in which it was beaten 43-18 by eventual premier Canterbury.
"He's a class player . . . when he does play rep footy he seems to play really well, so I think the selectors remember those sort of things," Bellamy said.
He also said full-back Billy Slater would visit a specialist today to determine what treatment he would have for a groin injury that substantially worsened during the latter part of the season.
Slater, who scored a magical try to lead Queensland to victory in the second State of Origin match this year, was named in the Kangaroos' train-on squad last month, but withdrew in favour of having surgery.
"It would have been a great education and a great experience for him, but at the end of the day he is very mindful of his long-term future and he can do some major damage if he trains and plays too much at the moment," Bellamy said.
"He just can't go away with an Australian squad and train like he has done with us . . . and to his credit he realises that and he had the main say in making that decision."
theage.com.au
[img]http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/7238/stormef5.gif[/img]
[b]PROUD MELBOURNE STORM SUPPORTER[/b]
[b]PROUD MELBOURNE STORM SUPPORTER[/b]