Storm slapped with $50,000 fine
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Craig Bellamy looks on during his team's preliminary final win. (Getty Images: Matt King)
Melbourne will be fined a whopping $50,000 by the NRL for its extraordinary outburst following last night's preliminary final in Sydney.
Coach Craig Bellamy and chief executive Brian Waldron went on the attack in the post-match press conference, criticising the treatment of captain Cam Smith by the judiciary and the media.
Smith was ousted for two matches for a grapple tackle on Brisbane's Sam Thaiday, ruling him out of last night's game and next weekend's grand final.
"Cameron Smith, 10 minutes after the game last week was hung out to dry," Bellamy said after the Storm qualified for the decider with a 28-0 shutout of Cronulla.
He said a worse tackle by the Dragons' Stuart Webb on Manly's Heath L'Estrange in week one of the finals went unpunished.
"You have a look at that tackle and tell me that's not a worse tackle than Cameron Smith's," he said.
"We're just after a fair go and I don't think Cameron Smith got a fair go."
Mr Waldron also chimed in, saying Sharks coach Ricky Stuart should not have been allowed comment on Smith's case before it was heard by the judiciary.
"It questions the integrity of our game at the core and we need some leadership to fix it," Mr Waldron said.
"To allow Ricky Stuart to make those comments is an absolute disgrace and a blight on the game."
The NRL said this afternoon that Melbourne's actions "amounted to an unprecedented, irrational and defamatory attack on the integrity of the judiciary panel and the game's judiciary processes".
"It's an extraordinary attack. It was conducted premeditated and launched by both the coach and the CEO," he said.
"CEOs are employed in many respects to take the emotion away from what happens in football.
"Opinion is part of the bump and scrape of rugby league but if you step over the line and attack the integrity of individuals who work in the game, you will get a fine.
"We've been clear about it for a number of years. If you infer that there's some level of corruption in the process, you will get a fine and you'll get a big one."
Mr Gallop said the NRL's judiciary panel prided itself on being able to set aside the emotional element of sport.
"To accuse them of being influenced at any stage is insulting enough, but to do so in the planned manner that occurred last night will simply not be tolerated," he said.
Mr Waldron said he would not make any comment on the fine until the club received written notification of the alleged breach.
