Melbourne Storm may bench Joe Chan for NRL final

Joe Chan and Scott Sorensen could go head-to-head on Sunday. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe

Melbourne Storm may shake things up by bringing Joe Chan off the bench for Sunday's NRL grand final clash.

The plans suffered a setback when Nelson Asofa-Solomona got suspended, throwing a curveball into the team's preparation.

Coach Craig Bellamy is keeping his options open, with Chan ready to step in for Lazarus Vaalepu.

The Storm's game plan took a hit when Asofa-Solomona received a hefty ban for a high tackle, leaving Bellamy scrambling to fill the gap.

Despite only limited NRL experience, Vaalepu got the nod in the initial team announcement.

The 25-year-old has mainly featured for Sunshine Coast in the Queensland Cup this season, making his last appearance in round 27.

Teammates are confident in Vaalepu's abilities, but Bellamy hinted at a possible last-minute change.

The coach raised eyebrows by suggesting Chan could be a candidate for the final bench spot, citing his versatility and recent match fitness from the NSW Cup grand final with North Sydney.

With the grand final looming, the Storm are prepared to adapt and overcome any challenges that come their way on the big stage.

The pressure is on, but Melbourne is no stranger to tough situations and is ready to give it their all against the Panthers.

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