Eels claim Storm short-change rivals

ILL-feeling between Parramatta and Melbourne has resurfaced ahead of Sunday's grand final qualifier, with the Eels asking the National Rugby League to stop Storm transferring Olympic Park's dimensions to the Telstra Dome.

Though coach Michael Hagan and Eels players are confident meeting the Storm away from their "awful" regular home venue, Parramatta boss Denis Fitzgerald wants officials to oversee Telstra Dome markings to make sure they meet guidelines.

Olympic Park is narrower than a normal NRL ground and its in-goals are shorter. And given the Storm's 30 wins in 31 games there, it is not a favourite place to visit.

But Fitzgerald said Melbourne should, like all other teams, provide a full-size field in the finals.

"Melbourne is the only team that has a home ground which is a mini-field," Fitzgerald told The Daily Telegraph.

"At Olympic Park you would be better off playing with 10 men rather than 13.

"I will be requesting that the NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley do a survey on the ground to ensure Telstra Dome meets the minimum requirements in terms of width and in-goal depth.

"With our exciting backline, we like to play an expansive game."

Storm chief executive Brian Waldron last night fired back at Fitzgerald.

"Given Denis's concerns, we welcome him down to Melbourne as early as possible this week to mark the ground himself," Waldron said.

"He is the self-professed doyen of the game. I'm sure he's done everything in rugby league except mark the fields. Here's an opportunity for him to say he's done it all."

The free-flowing Eels believe shifting Sunday's second preliminary final to the wider expanses of Telstra Dome is a bonus for them over Melbourne.

"I think anywhere other than Olympic Park suits us," Hagan said.

"It's an awful ground to play at. I'm not a fan of going to there and nor is anyone else. It's too narrow and it's not a genuine footy field.

"The in-goals are too short and Melbourne play to those conditions better than anyone because that's what they do well."

Although beaten 14-10 at Olympic Park in round 23, the Eels emerged from that game oozing confidence they could reverse the result.

NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said his organisation would ensure the ground meets all requirements.

"Telstra Dome has ample room to meet the full dimensions as prescribed by the NRL," he said.