Storm coach Craig Bellamy is expecting his side to experience the same tough, in-your-face style he has come to respect from the Warriors over the years.
The two clubs have grown a healthy rivalry over the years and that rivalry reaches a new level whenever they meet on ANZAC Day.
On Monday night Storm and the Warriors will go head-to-head on the significant day, an opportunity the Melbourne mentor is sure his players will embrace.
Be at AAMI Park on ANZAC Day. Get tickets to the Warriors blockbuster!
“It is a great honour for our Club, our players to be playing on ANZAC Day,” Bellamy said.
“To me it is the most famous day in Australia’s history and our players get to honour that. They all really enjoy playing, for six or seven years it has become a part of the calendar here so it is going to be a big day for us.
“It certainly means that little bit more to our players, playing on ANZAC Day. The Michael Moore trophy is also up for grabs so that is important to our Club as well.”
The Warriors will be a different side to the one Storm defeated just five weeks ago.
Since then New Zealand have won three of their last four games to get their season back on track.
Their turnaround in form has coincided with new recruit Isaac Luke hitting his straps while Shaun Johnson was back to his best with three try assists in last week’s win over the Bulldogs.
“They are a big, tough team and they’ve obviously got some skillful players there in Shaun Johnson,” Bellamy said.
“Isaac Luke has added something to them and they’ve always got guys like Vatuvei. It is always a tough game.
“The longer the season goes on the better the combination the forwards and the halves will have with Luke and we all know what a tremendous player he is.
“The more games they play, the better they are going to get.”
