'Fair dinkum': Cameron Smith's referee sledge backfires spectacularly

WARNING: The following article contains graphic images that some readers may find disturbing.

Cameron Smith has seemingly been left with egg on his face after complaining about an Elliott Whitehead injury during Melbourne’s clash with Canberra.

Smith was overheard complaining to the referee on Saturday night that the game had been stopped while Whitehead received treatment.

A trainer called for play to be stopped so he could see to Whitehead’s knee, but Smith didn’t think the injury was serious enough for a stoppage.

“My kids have bigger scratches than that,” Smith said to the referee.

“Fair dinkum, we’re stopping a rugby league game?”

As it turns out the Raiders probably did have cause to stop the game.

Whitehead has taken to social media to reveal the gruesome extent of the injury, taking a cheeky dig back at Smith in the process.

The Raiders second-rower posted a video on Monday showing a massive gash in his knee oozing with puss and blood.

“Just a scratch,” he captioned the video.

Storm not panicking despite shock loss

Melbourne aren't planning any sweeping changes despite their path to a fourth successive grand final taking a major detour.

The minor premiers hoped to lock in a preliminary final in a fortnight but with a shock 12-10 loss to Canberra at AAMI Park now must host a sudden-death semi-final next Saturday night against the winner of the match between Parramatta and Brisbane.

And if successful they will have a grand final replay in the preliminary final, travelling north to face the Sydney Roosters.

Coach Craig Bellamy said he wouldn't be making any personnel changes but would have plenty to say to his troops about their disappointing performance.

"We're not going to make wholesale changes - this side won a minor premiership and we led up until the last few minutes so it's nothing we can't make just a bit better in some crucial times of the game," Bellamy said.

with AAP