Storm coach Craig Bellamy has strongly supported NRL CEO Todd Greenberg's tough stance on blaming match officials and says those at the elite level need to consider their comments carefully.
It comes as the NRL handed out fines to the Manly Sea Eagles and Cronulla Sharks following comments from Trent Barrett and Shane Flanagan across the first week of the finals. Bellamy felt it sent a positive message.
"I thought Todd handled that really well," he said.
"He made a couple of comments about sometimes when people are heavily involved in the game, whether you're a player, or a coach or even an administrator at times, you know the grassroots – the kids, coaches – they're all watching. Sometimes we forget we should be setting an example of our game.
"Everybody – whether a player, coach or administrator at the NRL level – we've all got a responsibility to the game, [including] the juniors, the grassroots, the lower tiers. Sometimes we can forget that I suppose, but it was a good reminder for all of us I think."
The Storm have a week off as a reward for defeating the Eels last week. Bellamy felt there was still plenty to work on and was amused at the commentary around his side.
"It's quite funny – this time last week, we couldn’t be beat, it's ours to lose, and all of a sudden, you come forward five days and everyone knows how to beat us.
"At the end of the day, everyone's a chance. It’s a tough competition. We played the side that finish fourth – so they've had a pretty good season. Some people like to believe that now that anyone can beat anyone this time of year, you just [have] that day on or day off.
"We like to think we learned a few things there. There were a couple of our guys – five or six – who haven't played semi-finals before. They know what semi-finals are about now.
"A lot of people think we can't win when we're behind at half-time, but we ended up winning. There were a lot of positives to come out from it."
Fullback Billy Slater suffered a knock to the knee against the Eels but trained strongly during the week. The team has had a couple of lighter sessions with a heavier one on Thursday night.
"There's some things we'll be working really hard on but it certainly takes the edge off it this week when you're not playing," Bellamy said.
