Storm Rejects 'boring' Label
The Age
Monday April 28, 2008
MELBOURNE Storm believes Peter Sterling is a great of the game who has earned his right to voice his opinion - but yesterday three of its top decision-makers believed on this occasion the rugby league legend could keep it.
Sterling, a former Test half-back and respected league commentator, last week used his weekly column to declare that the Storm was a ruthless and successful team, but "boring to watch" because it rarely used its back line until it hit the opposition's 20-metre zone."When it comes to entertainment value, I'm afraid they just don't rate," he wrote in The Newcastle Herald."Unfortunately, they are a product of what it takes to be successful in today's game. Victory now comes on the back of ruck dominance through the speed of the play-the-ball and physical power through that area on the back of such success."However, Storm coach Craig Bellamy said he did not care about others' opinion, even from a person as credible as Sterling. His only concern was devising a game-plan that would lead to success - a goal he has achieved considering the Storm, which beat North Queensland 12-10 on the weekend, has won the past two minor premierships and last year's grand final."Peter Sterling is one of the greats and is very well respected but if he finds us boring, then he should just not watch us," Bellamy said."If I worry about what everyone says I would not be a very good coach."Storm captain Cameron Smith said: "We don't train to go out and entertain people, we train to go out and win footy games." Cooper Cronk said he didn't know how Billy Slater, Greg Inglis and Israel Folau could be called boring.? Chris Lawrence scored late to hand Wests Tigers a thrilling 20-16 win over Cronulla yesterday. It was the Tigers' fourth win of the season.? The ladder-leading Gold Coast registered a club-record fifth consecutive win, downing the Warriors 36-24. -- With AAP
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