Orford cleared of broken hand but
still in doubt

Despite being cleared of a broken hand yesterday, Melbourne halfback Matt Orford is still in doubt for the Storm?s Round 13 Telstra Premiership clash with Wests Tigers at Olympic Park this Saturday night.

Orford suffered the injury in the second half of last Saturday?s ten-point win over the Knights in Newcastle but X-rays last night cleared the Storm playmaker of a suspected broken hand.

Further tests today have indicated that the 26-year-old has a soft tissue injury and will be rested this week in a bid to prove his fitness prior to Saturday night?s match.

?A number of scans have shown that there are no broken bones in Matt?s hand, which means he has a nasty soft tissue injury,? Storm doctor Michael Makdissi said.

?He?ll be monitored throughout the week and he?ll need to prove his fitness before being cleared to play on the weekend.?

Steven Bell is also in doubt for the match against the Tigers after MRI scans today revealed the centre has a mid-foot sprain suffered in the first half of last week?s win.

?Steve has a mid-foot sprain and some minor bone bruising in his left foot,? Makdissi added.

?We?ll have to watch his progress fairly closely this week but at this stage he would be a 50/50 chance of playing.?

Both players will undergo fitness tests later in the week as the Storm looks to take its current winning streak to four wins.

Wests will be looking for their first ever victory in Melbourne after five unsuccessful attempts as a joint venture club.

Meanwhile, the Storm has secured its first Friday night game at Olympic Park in nearly three years and the first at Olympic Park in almost four seasons.

The Storm will take on reigning premiers the Penrith Panthers at Olympic Park on Friday July 2 at 7.30pm; the first time the NRL has scheduled Friday night football in Melbourne since the 2001 season when the Storm hosted Parramatta at Colonial Stadium.