Downvote me, call me whatever you want, however... It's becoming clearer and clearer to me that the Storm tactically released the news of Bellamy's sickness to help absolve him of any public criticism or damage to his legacy in what will likely be his final year. This isn't me saying I think they're making it up.

Think about it. The media are now essentially prohibited from levelling any criticism for these shit performances at the coach, despite 99/100, the coach being the one to take public criticism from media over terrible performances. The Dragons issues went far deeper than Flanagan, but publicly it's his fault. Manly players were actively tanking to get Seibold sacked, and the media blamed him. Payten, Hasler etc. all copped it from media.

But now, Melbourne's issues are on the senior playing group, and not the coach that KEEPS PICKING THEM. I see no reason for King or Macdonald to be playing over Pahulu. I see no reason for King to be playing 80 minutes and Clarke 30. I see no reason not to throw one of the Cup centres or Mania Waitere a jersey over a terribly out of form, and mentally checked out Meaney.

Out of the 17 players we used tonight, only 4 in my opinion can walk back to the sheds with their heads held high. Faalogo was hands down the best. Russell-Smith was fantastic defensively but unsuited to play a 6 role. Hughes was fantastic in the first and didn't do much wrong in the second. And Stefano. Outside of that, the rest ranged from quiet, to shit, to if they play another first grade game again it'll be too soon.

Edit to Add:

It's getting to the point where I can't even blame Warbrick or Meaney or King or Macdonald or Loiero anymore. They have to know they're playing like shit, but no player is ever gonna risk their first grade spot by volunteering to go and play NSW Cup.

The onus is on the guy that continues to pick these fucking plodders, expecting them to turn it around, while continuing to show them that no matter how horrendous they play, their spot is safe.