Storm update

Melbourne duo Billy Slater and Ben Cross remain in doubt for Sunday's Grand Final after both failed to complete training today.

Slater is being hampered by a knee injury and Cross a hamstring, both training on their own away from the main group. Today was the Storm's first field session since Sunday's preliminary final win over Parramatta.

Most concern seems to surround Slater, the Storm fullback taking longer than expected to get over a medial ligament strain.

Meanwhile, the minor premiers say they don't know what all the fuss is about after they became embroiled in yet another furore over their tackling technique.

The latest manoeuvre has been labelled the `ripper tackle', which led to Parramatta skipper Nathan Cayless suffering a torn pectoral muscle in last Sunday's preliminary final. Cayless had his arm wrenched behind him as Storm prop Brett White attempted to put the Kiwi forward on his back.

Storm forward Clint Newton said the latest controversy was just an attempt to unsettle the Victorian side.

Referees boss Robert Finch admitted grand final whistleblower Tony Archer would be limited in how he could punish the ripper tackle, claiming the only penalty that could be given would be for going on with the tackle too long.