THEY'VE been disgraced and disqualified, but Melbourne Storm have a message for the eight teams that will contest the finals in their absence: we're still the best.
Storm five-eighth Brett Finch revealed the Storm players steadfastly believe they would have defended the crown that was stripped following this year's salary cap scandal.
Taking aim at the NRL ahead of his team's penultimate outing against Wests Tigers tomorrow, Finch labelled the decision to make Melbourne play for nothing this season a "disgrace" and returned fire at critics who believe the illegal Storm has affected the finals chances of certain teams.
"Even now I still can't believe the NRL has let us play the whole season for nothing," Finch told The Daily Telegraph. "It's a disgrace … you've got guys like [Canberra Raiders president] John McIntyre coming out on their soap box and saying we've cost them a finals spot.
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"Well, we're just doing what we've been told to do. Maybe they should've just kicked us out of the
comp - but don't get angry at us. Get angry at the NRL. It was their decision and I still shake my head," Finch added.
Even though four months have passed since the punishment was imposed, Finch said his teammates sometimes forgot they were no longer vying for the premiership.
"There was certainly emotion and adrenalin at the start, but after a month it was like, 'How are we going to get through this?'
"It's really tough now because all the talk is about finals, and we still truly believe we're the best team in the comp.
"You have to check yourself. You hear all the other teams mentioned, but we're not. You momentarily think, 'Why isn't anyone mentioning us?'
"And then you remember why."
Finch is in doubt for tomorrow's clash at Leichhardt Oval with a hand complaint.
Star centre Greg Inglis is also racing the clock to recover from a virus, while Billy Slater has been out of action for much of the week celebrating the birth of his first son, Jake, on Tuesday afternoon.
The Storm have re-signed several members of their generation next to new deals as they look to rebuild.
Dane Nielsen, Bryan Norrie, Justin O'Neill and Rory Kostjasyn have all signed on for two more seasons, while Luke Kelly and Robbie Rochow have extended their contracts until the end of 2011.
The club also officially announced the signing of experienced props Adam Woolnough and Troy Thompson, along with young Warriors winger Elijah Niko.
The Storm's final home game against Newcastle on September 5 is a sellout. The club priced tickets at $1 as a thank you to fans.
Storm five-eighth Brett Finch revealed the Storm players steadfastly believe they would have defended the crown that was stripped following this year's salary cap scandal.
Taking aim at the NRL ahead of his team's penultimate outing against Wests Tigers tomorrow, Finch labelled the decision to make Melbourne play for nothing this season a "disgrace" and returned fire at critics who believe the illegal Storm has affected the finals chances of certain teams.
"Even now I still can't believe the NRL has let us play the whole season for nothing," Finch told The Daily Telegraph. "It's a disgrace … you've got guys like [Canberra Raiders president] John McIntyre coming out on their soap box and saying we've cost them a finals spot.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
Related Coverage
* Finch: The last NRL larrikin
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
"Well, we're just doing what we've been told to do. Maybe they should've just kicked us out of the
comp - but don't get angry at us. Get angry at the NRL. It was their decision and I still shake my head," Finch added.
Even though four months have passed since the punishment was imposed, Finch said his teammates sometimes forgot they were no longer vying for the premiership.
"There was certainly emotion and adrenalin at the start, but after a month it was like, 'How are we going to get through this?'
"It's really tough now because all the talk is about finals, and we still truly believe we're the best team in the comp.
"You have to check yourself. You hear all the other teams mentioned, but we're not. You momentarily think, 'Why isn't anyone mentioning us?'
"And then you remember why."
Finch is in doubt for tomorrow's clash at Leichhardt Oval with a hand complaint.
Star centre Greg Inglis is also racing the clock to recover from a virus, while Billy Slater has been out of action for much of the week celebrating the birth of his first son, Jake, on Tuesday afternoon.
The Storm have re-signed several members of their generation next to new deals as they look to rebuild.
Dane Nielsen, Bryan Norrie, Justin O'Neill and Rory Kostjasyn have all signed on for two more seasons, while Luke Kelly and Robbie Rochow have extended their contracts until the end of 2011.
The club also officially announced the signing of experienced props Adam Woolnough and Troy Thompson, along with young Warriors winger Elijah Niko.
The Storm's final home game against Newcastle on September 5 is a sellout. The club priced tickets at $1 as a thank you to fans.
