Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has urged the NRL to follow the lead of rugby's governing body SANZAR and put the competition on hold to allow State of Origin to be played over three successive weekends
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The recent tour of the British and Irish Lions prompted the suspension of the Super Rugby competition to allow the three Test matches against the Wallabies to be played.
Bellamy wants the same thing to happen in the NRL after his side - shorn of Origin stars Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Ryan Hoffman - were smashed 39-0 by Canterbury on Sunday.
The biggest question on everyone's lips at ANZ Stadium was why a repeat of last year's grand final was being played in the middle of Origin in front of a crowd of less than 17,000.
Bellamy conceded he is more vocal about the situation because his side lose so many players during Origin, but said he hoped the ARL Commission will revisit the possibility of stand-alone games.
"Origin takes a lot out of your players everyone knows that and accepts that," Bellamy said.
"It takes them a little while to get over the emotional (side of it). It's a tough thing to come down for or get up again, depending on the result.
"I've found with our guys, the last couple of Origin series, it's probably taken a little bit longer.
"Origin seems to be getting bigger and bigger and with that comes a bigger emotional leftover at the end."
"I think we could learn a bit from rugby who cancelled their competition for a couple of week for the Lions tour
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The premiership-winning coach refused to use the loss of his star players as an excuse for the loss but expressed surprise that the NRL had scheduled the game for this weekend.
"You'd have to ask the people who put the draw out," he said.
"We always like to miss just the one game without our rep players but this year was different.
"I am disappointed and a touch embarrassed. We got hammered, we got what we deserved.
"It's strange to have a grand final replay without Origin players."
The result edged Des Hasler's side back into the top eight as they leapfrogged the Gold Coast on points differential thanks to the comfortable win.
Melbourne remain in third spot but are now seven points adrift of leaders South Sydney who did not play this weekend.
On Saturday night, Penrith, wooden spoon favourites at the start of the year, consolidate their spot in the top eight with a hard-fought 17-10 win over struggling Parramatta.
It was the Eels' seventh straight loss and a second successive wooden spoon is looking a certainty for Ricky Stuart's side
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On Monday night, Manly get the opportunity to crank up the pressure on under-fire North Queensland coach Neil Henry in Townsville to complete a reduced round that kicked off with Cronulla beating Brisbane on Friday night.
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