Resting Delivers An EdgeBilly Slater - Sunday Herald Sun - July 22, 2007 
I think our management of players at Melbourne Storm has helped us get an edge over our rivals. No player likes to be sidelined if they're fit, but we have come to understand why rest is beneficial. Our coaching staff and performance unit have been together for five years, along with our core playing group, and we know each other inside out. Last week, Ben Cross was rested and Jeff Lima sat out the week before. That shows why we've been able to dominate in the past two seasons. When I first came down, our coach, Craig Bellamy, was not a big believer in resting guys; he was all for training hard and performing each week. Maybe being in an AFL environment has opened his eyes. Some clubs lose their structure without their best players, but it's a risk worth taking. It doesn't matter who you're up against -- a top or bottom side -- it is a mentally and physically draining caper. The NRL is going to introduce a break after Origin next year, which is a good move. At Storm we give our representative players some time off anyway, but it's pleasing to hear the league is looking out for players' welfare. Personally, I've had enough rest in the past couple of years, so I'm feeling very fresh. Congratulations to Ryan Hoffman and Dallas Johnson, who played their 100th matches last night. Congratulations, too, to my partner, Nicole Rose, who is launching her art exhibition on Tuesday night at Federation Square. Her great artwork can be viewed over two weeks at the Per Square Metre in Collingwood.
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