Quiet achiever reaches milestone
for Storm

Underrated Melbourne Storm centre Steven Bell is set to play his 50th NRL match this week when the Storm takes on the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Olympic Park.

Since joining the Storm?s first grade side from feeder club Brisbane Norths in 2001 Bell has been one of the most consistent scorers in the NRL collecting 29 tries from just 49 matches.

The former Storm rookie of the year (2001) was a relative latecomer to the NRL starting his first grade career at the ripe old age of 25.

But the Queensland born 27-year-old has again been one of the storm?s quiet achievers this year logging eight tries from 14 matches.

?I?m quite happy to take on a bit of a background role so long as I do all the things I?m supposed to do well and we?re winning,? Bell said.

?To be honest the 50 games have come along quite quickly really, at one stage I thought I wouldn?t even play one game because I started pretty late in the NRL.?

After the Rabbitohs handed the Storm a 27-point hiding in round 13 earlier this year ? the club?s worst defeat of the season ? Bell says Melbourne will be keen to avoid embarrassment a second time this week.

?I don?t know whether last time we went into the game with the wrong mindset but we all know what the result was and this week we won?t be lacking in commitment,? Bell explained.

?We all know that we?ve had a tendency to play well against the top sides and then drop off against the poorer sides so I don?t think anyone can afford to be off their game this week.?

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has named a 19-man squad for Saturday?s match with skipper Stephen Kearney and forward Dallas Johnson both uncertainties to take their place in the side.

Second-rower Peter Robinson will return after missing last week?s match due to injuries to his right ankle and knee.

Kearney is scheduled to play for New Zealand in Friday night?s Test against Australia while Melbourne will await the outcome of tonight?s judicial hearing with Johnson contesting a grade one dangerous throw on Brisbane?s Shaun Berrigan.

MELBOURNE STORM TEAM TO PLAY SOUTH SYDNEY, THIS SATURDAY AT OLYMPIC PARK, 7.30PM

1. Billy Slater 2. Fifita Moala 3. Steven Bell 4. David Kidwell 5. Marcus Bai 6. Matt Geyer 7. Matt Orford 8. Robbie Kearns 9. Cameron Smith 10. Mitchell Sargent 11. Peter Robinson 12. Stephen Kearney (c) 13. Dallas Johnson BENCH: 14. Danny Williams 15. Ryan Hoffman 16. Kirk Reynoldson 17. Glen Turner 18. Nathan Friend 19. Robert Tanielu IN: Peter Robinson OUT: 2 to be omitted

STORM TRAINING THIS WEEK Wednesday: 2pm, Olympic Park Friday: 5.30pm, Olympic Park

For further information contact James Avery: Phone (03) 9421 3222 Mobile: 0411 623 024 javery@melbournestorm.com.au