Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has launched a spirited defence of his players and club amid the latest 'chin strap' wrestling claims levelled against them by Canberra coach David Furner.
Bellamy observed last year that the talk died down during 2010 when Storm were unable to pick up any points as part of their punishment for salary cap cheating, only to be raised again in 2011 when they were part of the competition again and on their way to winning the minor premiership.
And now Furner has reignited the debate by sending footage to the NRL of six incidents from last Saturday night's match at Canberra Stadium, which Storm won 24-19, suggesting the victors had been playing outside the rules.
According to the definition of the latest technique, Storm players stand accused of grabbing hold of an opponent's chin in a tackle and then wrenching their heads to one side.
Referees' boss Bill Harrigan has already said only Todd Lowrie should have been penalised from the game, for a tackle on former team-mate Brett White, suggesting the other five were either fine or the footage was inconclusive.
But that wasn't enough for Bellamy though, with the former New South Wales State of Origin coach taking the opportunity to kick off his weekly appearance in front of the media by slamming Furner and others questioning his club.
"I just want to make a couple of points about the Canberra complaint from the weekend," Bellamy said.
"In the six tackles that were sent to the referees by David Furner, we agree that one of those tackles should have definitely been a penalty."
"So the 200 tackles that we made on the weekend, there's one that would come under review but one in 200 on a supposed new tackle technique is not a real high percentage."
"So I'm not quite sure whether David Furner thinks we're a bunch of hillbillies down here, I'm not quite sure how he thinks we're not that smart."
"If he thinks we actually teach our players to attack the head and necks of other players when that part of the game is so highly under scrutiny these days by the referees, by the review committee (then he'd be wrong)."
"I know we're not that smart but we aint that dumb either."
Bellamy continued by suggesting that when coaches or players from other teams make the claims it is perhaps also an attempt to mask their own failings.
"I'd just like to say that my players at times seem to be an easy target for opposition clubs or individuals from opposition clubs that are under a little bit of pressure," he added.
"It seems as though we're an easy target to deflect that pressure by after the week that they've played us or the week leading up to when they play us in that we're under pressure so let's talk about the Melbourne players' tackling technique and put the pressure on there."
"If my players do the wrong thing we expect to be penalised, just like everybody else."
"And if there's any problems with our game from the referees or the review committee well I'm sure we'll hear from them."
"Other than that we just want to get on with a preparation for (Sunday's game against) Souths now and as I said as far as I'm concerned this case is dead and buried."