3 minute read
Craig Bellamy is expecting former Melbourne trio Felise Kaufusi and the Bromwich brothers, Jesse and Kenny to be fired up as the Dolphins hunt a finals berth.
Craig Bellamy has been given a timely reminder about the threat the Dolphins pose as Melbourne look to continue their minor premiership push.
It's been a week of celebrations for the Storm with giant prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona set to play his 200th, while four former club greats, including long-time skipper Cameron Smith, were inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame.
The club also named current players Asofa-Solomona, Christian Welch and Cameron Munster as life members, where they join Dolphins trio Felise Kaufusi and the Bromwich brothers, Jesse and Kenny.
While the Storm are looking to maintain their four-point buffer at the top of the ladder, the ninth-placed Dolphins are desperate to break back into the eight, with that experience trio key to their chances at AAMI Park in Saturday's clash.
"It's funny at the life members dinner the other night like, with the videos, the Bromwichs came up a lot and Fus (Kaufusi) came up a lot and it's quite amazing that we're playing them this week," Bellamy said on Friday.
"They're great competitors, all three of them, and we know what they'll bring to their team on Saturday night - they'll have a little bit extra for their old team as well.
"They're fighting hard for a top eight spot so it's a big game for them and it's a big game for us, too as our last performance here (AAMI Park) wasn't great."
Melbourne were shock two-point losers to St George Illawarra in their last home game earlier this month but have since downed South Sydney and beaten title favourites Penrith on their own turf.
"That was a really good performance last week - Penrith are hard to beat any time let alone at home," the coach said.
"But that's not going to mean nothing if we don't turn up with the same performance tomorrow night."
Bellamy donned a NAS 200 T-shirt for their final training run, honouring Asofa-Solomona's milestone match, and reinforced his value to the club.
"I think the last two or three weeks he's probably played his best games of the year, it's probably been his best form," Bellamy said of the 28-year-old Kiwi international.
"He came here when he was probably 17 and has been a wonderful addition to our club.
"It's a great mark for him to be good for so long, to get 200 games up in the position that he plays and with his size and stress on his joints."
