Storm skipper Grant suspended as Bunker drama leaves Dogs puzzled

[ad_1] The approaching return of Jahrome Hughes has been soured by the suspension of Storm captain Harry Grant, who faces an enforced two-week break after Melbourne's hard-fought win over Canterbury.

The Storm moved 4 factors away from the third-placed Bulldogs on the again of the 20-14 victory in Melbourne, with Canberra within the field seat to assert the minor premiership after downing Penrith in golden level earlier on Friday.

On Saturday morning, skipper Grant was given a three-week suspension, decreased to 2 weeks with an early plea, for a shoulder cost on Canterbury's Harry Hayes.

Melbourne nonetheless has two robust top-eight encounters to finish its common season. The Storm host the Sydney Roosters subsequent Friday night time earlier than a Thursday conflict in opposition to the Broncos in Brisbane.

However with their factors distinction 144 higher than the Bulldogs, they would wish to undergo two monumental losses to lose their top-two spot.

Jahrome Hughes has not performed since struggling a shoulder damage in opposition to the Roosters on July 24. ( AAP: Dan Himbrechts )

Cameron Munster has carried a heavy load in latest weeks along with his halves associate Hughes sidelined after a shoulder dislocation.

Initially forecast to return in week one of many finals, Hughes is assured about being obtainable for the Broncos match as he continues his rehabilitation on his shoulder that he damage in opposition to the Roosters in late July.

The Storm have solely had their first-choice backbone on the park for eight matches this season, with fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen additionally lacking a variety of video games by means of damage.

"I do not suppose he must play so far as mixtures and issues like that, however simply, I suppose, for his confidence, and having confidence within the shoulder," Bellamy mentioned of Hughes.

"I might hate for him to enter a last with a little bit of doubt.

"So if we might take that doubt out of it by taking part in him in our final spherical, we'll look to do this, so long as the physios and the medical individuals suppose he is 100 per cent proper to play."

<h2 class="Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B future_heading__Gcudw Heading_default__Z3p_p Typography_sizeMobile20__NUDn4 Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s" data-component="Heading">Ciraldo questions Bunker ruling after disallowed strive Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo voiced his frustrations after the loss to the Storm following a disallowed attempt to Stephen Crichton.

The Bulldogs captain thought he had scored within the last minute off a Matt Burton bomb, however the Bunker dominated it to be a knock-on, chalking off the strive.

"The entire kick contest once more, that is actually complicated. You contact him after they're within the air and it is a penalty and you then're allowed to place your arm out and cease them going for a catch," Ciraldo mentioned concerning the incident.

"I really do not know. I do not get an excellent have a look at it however I will most likely ship it in [to the NRL] through the week.

Stephen Crichton thought he had gotten the Bulldogs in place to degree the scores within the dying seconds earlier than being denied by the Bunker. ( Getty Photos: Graham Denholm )

"I despatched a heap in final week and it does not actually assist, however no less than we will try to educate our gamers on what you are really on the lookout for, I suppose."

Regardless of the disallowed strive, Crichton was impressed by his facet's efficiency.

"It is going to give us confidence coming again if we do find yourself coming again right here and taking part in the primary semi-final right here," the burly centre mentioned.

"There's so many classes that we will take out of it, however the vivid facet is we all know that we will go up in opposition to the highest 4 groups and have an opportunity of profitable, and it means as a footy staff we will get collectively and imagine that as effectively."