September 20, 2008

INSPIRATIONAL Melbourne captain Cameron Smith was confident his part in a contentious second half tackle wouldn't rub him out of next weekend's preliminary final against the Sharks.

Melbourne snatched victory 16-14 when superstar Greg Inglis dived across the try line with just seconds remaining at Suncorp Stadium just as the 50,000 crowd thought the Brisbane Broncos would hold on.

Smith and replacement Jeremy Smith were called out by referee Shayne Hayne and spoken to sternly after they wrestled Broncos forward Sam Thaiday around the head and upper body in the 60th minute.

Players from both sides ran in and pushed and shoved each other in the first of two flare ups.

With 93 carry over points from the opening round, Smith could be suspended for two games if charged and found guilty of a grapple tackle.

Smith though wasn't too concerned at the possibility the tackle could deliver him a savage blow should Melbourne progress past Cronulla next weekend to the grand final.

"There was a lot of us involved in that tackle," said Smith, blood seeping from a bandage above his left eye.

"I see on the replay that my arm was up around his head."

Asked if he was nervous about it, the Australian captain said: "Not really."

"I don't think there was any intent involved and I didn't try and twist or choke him or anything like that.

"It's not up to us.

The NRL's video review committee will no doubt take a close look at the tackle.

"It's getting close to grand final time and I guess the team will be waiting on a decision," said Smith.

"They've looked at tackles like this all year and made their decision. Like I said, it's out of our hands."

Storm coach Craig Bellamy, who is good friends with beaten Broncos coach Wayne Bennett, admitted he wasn't sure at half time when his side was down 12-0 if his players could come back.

"At half time I wasn't sure if we were going to get out of it," he said.

"With a few minutes to go we didn't look like we were quite good enough but we hung in and got a bit lucky.

"It's all a bit of a blur to me know, it feels like the top of my head is going to blow off."

Melbourne were reduced to 12 men midway through the second half but managed to pinch a try to get back to 14-12 when full-back Billy Slater pulled in a Cooper Cronk kick to score near the posts.

The try was a huge turning point with three Brisbane defenders, Darren Lockyer, Karmichael Hunt and Justin Hodges all guilty of failing to attack the ball.

"We should have stopped the Slater try," said Bennett whose 21-year reign ended on a gut-wrenching note along with retiring forward Tonie Carroll.

Bennett was tough right to the very end, refusing to show any emotion other than disappointment after the heart-breaking farewell.

"I'm more disappointed about losing a game of footy than I am about leaving the club," he said without a hint of emotion.

Lockyer was a forlorn figure, shedding a tear on the field.

"I don't think I have ever felt like that before. We turned up tonight .... I'm lost for words."