Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy refuses to get caught up in thoughts of what might have been for his team in 2010 because 'it's not reality'.
Bellamy and the Storm's worlds were turned upside down in late April when the NRL not only stripped the club of two premierships but also ruled it would claim no competition points in 2010 as a result of its salary cap rorting.
Despite that Melbourne has still gone on to win another nine times from 16 matches and if they were still actually alive in the competition rather than consigned to wooden-spoon status they would be level on points with second-placed Penrith midway through Round 24.
But when Bellamy was asked if he casts an eye over the ladder, particularly when the competition is as open as it has been in at least five years, he was quick to dismiss the talk.
"I don't think we need to do the maths (for where we'd be on the ladder), everyone keeps telling us where we'd be, 'if you were in the competition and if you were getting points you'd be on this and that'," Bellamy said after Saturday night's 24-4 win over the Sharks.
"I don't particularly want to know."
"At the end of the day it doesn't mean anything, it's not reality."
"Some of the players probably do, I don't know, when they've got a spare hour after a gym session before a training session they might work it out, I'm not quite sure but it's certainly of no interest to me to be quite honest."
With Matt Duffie rested on Saturday night and Dane Nielsen switching to the wing Bellamy used Sika Manu and Ryan Hinchcliffe in the centres at times, with both grabbing tries, and he was particularly pleased with the effort of Manu who has endured an injury-interrupted career.
"It seems funny he's only played 50 games but he's had a couple of bad injuries so hopefully he's had his bad luck with injuries," Bellamy added.
"I think he's got a lot more improvement in him as well so he's certainly going to be really important player and a really good player."
"Hopefully he can stay away from any more serious injuries and he'll be an important part of our team next year."