Bellamy said the workload on his team was 'criminal' and no other side had to contend with such a heavy workload, particularly at this stage of the season. He said he'd never seen a football team so exhausted. The Storm and Broncos meet in a late-round blockbuster. Credit:Getty Images "We've played three games in the last 10 days. I think 13 of the 16 teams have only played one game in that time. We've played three. That's how ridiculous it is, what has happened to this team. Two five-day turnarounds at the end of the season, that's ridiculous," Bellamy said. "I've never seen a team as tired as they were this week. It was just grit out there tonight. I've never seen him (Smith) as tired. "We just can't keep talking about player welfare and don't do anything about it. If we're not going to do anything about it, don't talk about. What's happened to these guys in the last 10 days has been criminal."

Smith looked as if he had nothing left in the tank after the game, saying players had approached the RLPA and urged them to pursue the matter of five-day turnarounds with considerable vigour. "I know the boys are pretty tired at the moment, given our last three matches and the time we've played them in. Ten days, I can't believe we're here playing tonight, to be honest," Smith said. "The players have given notice to the RLPA that we're not happy with the five-day turnarounds. And they'll be taking that up quite strongly with the NRL. "I'd like to think there will be some movement, or at least for the NRL to talk to the broadcasters about their scheduling of next year's draw." The AFL doesn't have five-days turnarounds between games. Bellamy said the reasoning was that AFL players put far more miles under their legs but he said the sheer physicality of rugby league was just as draining.