Storm stand in the way of Cowboys’ Final bid

Tate played 114 games for Brisbane – where he was part of Wayne Bennett’s 2006 grand final-winning side – and the last 67 of his 229 NRL games for North Queensland, where he battled a career-threatening neck injury and came back from three knee reconstructions.

Thurston took the injury into the Cowboys’ qualifying final loss to Brisbane two weeks ago and didn’t appear to be hampered by the complaint.

The Storm are attempting to return to the grand final for the sixth time in a decade, while the Cowboys are aiming for their first since 2005.

Bellamy said Koroibete’s prospects of playing did not look good on Monday but improved significantly on Tuesday and Wednesday after the glue was removed.

Bellamy will only make a decision on replacing Koroibete if he is ruled out, but the coach did try several different combinations at the team’s Sunday training session.

Speaking at the Sports Industry Breakfast Club, Pietersen said: “Absolutely it seems to be the right decision at the moment”.

“I’ve seen glimpses of it or heard about glimpses of it but I didn’t think it was a real big issue”. “It is going to help us… but ultimately it comes down to our performance”.

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy says NRL players have to know the potency of their prescribed painkilling drugs.

Green said he was expected his player to rise to the occasion.

While Thurston and his teammates will be determined to win to earn the chance at the club’s first premiership, Smith said the Storm players would be motivated to prove the doubters wrong after being written off as a premiership contender for most of the season.

Bellamy added Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston would be at his best in attack and became more risky when paired with the speedy Morgan.

“When people start knocking your team or your team’s ability, I think you take a bit of offence to that”.