Melbourne Storm rift talk too tyring for Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart

Stuart laughed off suggestions he was the cause of a split between Bellamy and Smith last year.

It emerged when news broke the NRL bought a ring for Smith's wife Barbara for the 428-gamer's service to rugby league.

Smith reportedly blamed Stuart for leaking the story and was then unhappy with Bellamy for having a beer with his longstanding mate after the Raiders produced a stunning victory in Melbourne in the lead-up to the 2019 finals.

Apparently he saw it as disloyalty from his coach.

But Stuart was quick to dismiss talk he was the original leak and cheekily pointed to Smith's Instagram story as proof there was no rift.

The video shows Bellamy desperately failing to change a tyre.

Stuart went one step further, never missing the opportunity to have a dig at his mate, that it was also proof he was smarter than the Storm mentor.

The duo have been mates since their playing days when both were with the Raiders.

Bellamy was a foundation player for the Green Machine and took a young Stuart under his wing when he joined the club in 1988.

"I didn't know about it. If I've created a rift between Cameron and Craig I apologise, but I don't think I have," Stuart said.

"Not after what I saw last night with Craig changing a tyre.

"I'd get someone else to do it. That's why I'm smarter than Craig."

Stuart hoped he'd get the opportunity to take three beers into the Storm sheds after the prelim in Friday - because that would mean the Raiders were through to consecutive NRL grand finals.

Bellamy and Stuart have a longstanding tradition that whoever wins between the pair takes a beer into the vanquished's sheds.

"I hope I am taking a beer into the changerooms. It'll be a great contest," Stuart said.

MORE RAIDERS NEWS

Stuart was unsure what Smith's plans were, but similarly the Raiders coach hoped if the future Immortal was retiring at the end of the season that season end would come on Friday.

The Raiders boast a good recent record against Melbourne, having won three of their past four encounters - including last year's qualifying final - with that one loss coming in the game Canberra star hooker Josh Hodgson suffered a season-ending knee injury.

But at Suncorp Stadium it's a different matter - Canberra have won just once since 2004, while the Storm have lost once since 2009.

"Cameron hasn't come out and said what he's doing yet, but in respect to Cameron if it is his last game in Queensland - I'm hoping it's his last game in the NRL - but if it's his last game in Queensland I'm sure he'll have the respect of all the people there," Stuart said.

He was pleased with the Raiders' form going into the game, having won 11 of their past 13 games.

"We're playing against a team that wants what we want and there's a grand final at stake," Stuart said.

NRL PRELIMINARY FINAL

Friday: Canberra Raiders v Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Semi Valemei 3. Jarrod Croker (c) 4. Jordan Rapana 5. Nick Cotric 6. Jack Wighton 7. George Williams 8. Josh Papalii 9. Tom Starling 10. Sia Soliola 11. John Bateman 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili 15. Dunamis Lui 16. Hudson Young 17. Corey Harawira-Naera. Reserves: 18. Sam Williams 19. Matt Timoko 20. Ryan Sutton 21. Michael Oldfield.

Storm squad: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Brenko Lee 4. Justin Olam 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Christian Welch 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenneath Bromwich 13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Interchange: 14. Brandon Smith 15. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 16. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Nicholas Hynes. Reserves: 18. Dale Finucane 19. Paul Momirovski 20. Ryley Jacks 21. Chris Lewis.