Melbourne Storm head coach Craig Bellamy is surprised that rugby league is somewhat stealing the limelight in New Zealand sport this weekend, with the NRL clash competing with the Super Rugby Pacific semifinals.
Tomorrow, the Super Rugby semifinal between the Hurricanes and the Chiefs in Wellington will be played before the Warriors' big clash with the Storm in Auckland.
"Yeah I suppose it’s a bit unusual. It's a bit strange that rugby moved their time because we’ve got a game on," said Bellamy.
The top-of-the table Storm are preparing to play at a packed Mount Smart Stadium, which sold out for this match weeks ago.
"I don’t really look at the table too much... we've won a few close games but it just doesn't feel like we've been playing as well as that."
Bellamy said he is impressed by the Warriors' recent form, especially in last weekend's 42-12 win against the North Queensland Cowboys.
"They probably didn’t have their best start, we were fortunate last time when Coates scored at the end to win the game, but in the last couple weeks they've shown some good form."
The Warriors lost to the Storm in round two after a last minute try from Xavier Coates, who dived to score acrobatically in the corner.
Bellamy wasn't fazed when asked about how he feels about playing the Warriors at home.
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