Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has called on the NRL to be brave enough to clean up the game and stamp out illegal wrestling tactics.
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Even before a Storm erupted over Melbourne's ability to slow down the play-the-ball, Stuart was bracing for what's coming in their top-four blockbuster in Melbourne on Saturday.
The Storm have been in the crosshairs this week after South Sydney football manager Shane Richardson blew up over some of their tactics - the use of elbows when carrying the ball and also prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona's crusher tackle.
It happens every year in the lead-up to finals - the Storm's control of the ruck gets put under the spotlight.
Stuart said it shouldn't just be the Storm being scrutinised, but he wants the NRL to act to clean up the game.
"I don't agree with the illegal stuff, with what happens on the ground," he said.
"There's got to be someone brave enough to stand up.
"Not just at the Melbourne Storm, any illegal foul tactic on the ground, I believe there's a responsibility with our people who are in charge of the game to get rid of it.
"I've got my way of getting rid of it, but I'm not running the game."
The Storm were furious with Richardson's comments and put it down to a tactic from Souths supercoach Wayne Bennett.
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It's something Richardson denied.
Regardless, the Green Machine will be the ones to face any backlash from the Storm, while the Rabbitohs sit comfortably 900 kilometres away in Sydney.
Stuart said regardless of whether the drama sparked the Storm into action, they knew what was awaiting them in Melbourne.
"Whether it's backlash or not we know what we're going to have to put up with," he said.
"We're prepared for that and we've got to go down there and play our game and not let it frustrate us."
The stripping rule has also been under fire this week after Sydney Roosters Trent Robinson bemoaned it's introduction.
But Stuart dismissed Robinson's comments.
He felt teams should do what the Raiders have done - roll their sleeves up and get to work on the training paddock to turn it into a strength.
As revealed by The Canberra Time, the Raiders are the kings of the strip and have produced more than twice as many as any other team.
"I thought it was a ridiculous comment last week about having to eliminate that rule," Stuart said.
"When you can't do stuff, doesn't mean you've got to get rid of it.
"Because we do it well, does that mean we've got to be punished for it?
"Go and practice it, go and do a bit more extra work like we do, you might get it right."
NRL ROUND 22
Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Melbourne Storm at Melbourne, 5.30pm.
Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Sia Soliola, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Bailey Simonsson, 15. Dunamis Lui, 16. Corey Horsburgh, 17. Ryan Sutton. Reserves: 18. Sam Williams, 19. Hudson Young.
Storm squad: 1. Jahrome Hughes, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Will Chambers, 4. Justin Olam, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Brodie Croft, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith (c), 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Kenneath Bromwich, 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange: 14. Tui Kamikamica, 15. Tino Faasuamaleaui, 16. Joe Stimson, 17. Ryan Papenhuyzen. Reserves: 18. Max King, 20. Sandor Earl.