Bellamy lauds ‘sensible’ retirement call

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has revealed his relief after two-time premiership player Dale Finucane took medical advice to retire, declaring players and clubs need to continue to educate themselves to ensure long and healthy lives for those involved in the game.

Bellamy was effusive in his praise for Finucane, who called time on his 251-game game career on Tuesday, as both a player and a person and said “whatever he got out of the game, he earned ‘cause he worked bloody hard for it”.

Finucane, who is recovering from a fractured cheekbone, said there was “no decision to be made” after two independent medical experts urged him to retire after suffering concussions estimated to be in double digits.

Some of them came in his 152 games for the Storm, where he was a co-captain, and all under Bellamy, who as a former coach and great admirer of Finucane was glad he made the call in the interests of his family, fearing “one more knock” could have done untold damage.

“I spoke to him a little while ago, I think it was a sensible way to go,” Bellamy said on Wednesday.

“His family, his wife Maddie and the two boys, they’ve obviously given him great support along the way and I think it’s time for him to think about the family because one more knock or whatever, and he’s certainly not just starting his career, he’s getting closer to the end, but he’s just been a wonderful player for the clubs that he’s played with, (and) an ornament to the game as well.

Bellamy lauds ‘sensible’ retirement call

“Dale’s I think, forgive me for saying this, he’s not the most talented player that’s ever laced on a boot, but I’ve never seen anyone prepare like him. And whatever he got out of the game, he earned ‘cause he worked bloody hard for it.

“And he’s one bloke I’ll always admire greatly because of how he got to the heights he got to but just how much hard work he had to put in. And you know, that’s not just him, that was his family there and Maddie supported him all the way, so really proud of their whole family.”

Bellamy said the ongoing threat of concussion demanded all clubs and the NRL stay engaged in education around the issue.

The premiership-winning coach’s comments came ahead of an Anzac Day showdown with South Sydney who have never won in Melbourne in 18 trips dating back to the Storm’s inclusion in the NRL in 1998.

It’s a record Bellamy was unaware of, and unfazed by, knowing the battling Bunnies, who have won just a single game this season and with coach Jason Demetriou under pressure, would bring something to the table on such a special occasion.

“Not too many footy teams get to play Anzac Day and we see it as a real privilege and an honour to be able to go out there on such an important day in Australia’s history,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter where the two teams are in the competition table. You’ve got to expect the best of them and obviously they’ve got a lot of talented players in that team. They’ve had the bye, so they’ve had a chance to regroup and build their energy up.

“We’re just basically concerned about what we need to do and how we need to do it, and just make sure we get it done.”