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Craig Bellamy is a class act

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy. (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
Roar Guru
20th May, 2018
25

Saturday night’s Melbourne versus Manly contest was unprecedented for a number of reasons.

It saw the send-off used for the first time since 2015 when Curtis Scott repeatedly punched Dylan Walker in what could only be described as a shocking brain explosion. It did not end there, however, with four players sent for ten-minute layoffs – or that was at least what we have come to expect. Stunning revelations later came that two Manly Sea Eagles players had entered the field almost two minutes before their mandatory breaks had elapsed.

The Fox Sports cameras peered into the Melbourne Storm coaching box. Craig Bellamy was visibly lost for words. The premiership-winning coach is renowned for his trademark blow-ups in the coach’s box, yet viewers were left disappointed with no sudden outburst from him. Instead he appeared utterly dumbfounded by the events that had transpired.

After being left underwhelmed by his reaction during the game, fans waited in anticipation for the Melbourne Storm press conference. Only a fortnight ago Dean Pay had blasted the referees for their role in the Bulldogs’ 22-20 loss to Brisbane, while Trent Robinson did similar on Friday night after the Roosters went down 28-22 in controversial circumstances. This time all that was needed was the knowledge of how to use a stopwatch. Yet, somehow, something had gone horribly wrong.

Bellamy fronted the media and he was incredibly upset. He was quick to place the blame directly on one party: his players. In a simple four-minute press conference Bellamy demonstrated his class and proved why he is the most professional coach not only in the NRL but in Australian sport.

“At the end of the day, I can’t remember the last time we played so poorly,” Bellamy said. “The second half was crap.”

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy

(AAP Image/Paul Miller)

Bellamy’s assessment of the game was spot on. Locked up at two-all at half-time despite a shaky first half, the Storm had still given themselves a great chance of victory. Just a week ago Melbourne found themselves in a similar situation, down 14-8 at the break to a determined Titans outfit. However, a much-improved second half saw the Storm take advantage of an injury-plagued Gold Coast side to storm home 28-14.

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Last night, however, after completing at 78 per cent in the first half, Bellamy’s men came out and completed just 38 per cent of their sets in the second 40 as they collapsed to a 24-4 defeat. That was why they lost. It was not due to the controversial timekeeping mistake that Bellamy would have had every right to blow up about.

Instead Bellamy calmly dismissed its importance and instead admitted: “I can’t remember the last time we played so poorly.”

Bellamy’s objective reaction to his team’s defeat was a pleasant surprise. It was certainly not what I was expecting given what we so often see from the veteran coach within the heat of battle. Yet, despite this, I was not left disappointed.

Bellamy’s attitude is certainly one that Bulldogs coach Dean Pay could learn from. Following their two-point loss to the Broncos, Pay was quick to shift the blame onto the performance of the officials – in fact not once did the Canterbury coach address the role his own team played in their demise.

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I understand that coaches dedicate their heart and soul into looking after their players and the 80th-minute defeat to the Broncos would have been devastating for the 17 men left dejected in Pay’s dressing room.

However, when you are ahead by six points with six minutes remaining, the expectation is that you close out the victory. In that instance, the Bulldogs lacked the discipline necessary to claim what would have been a well-deserved win. Instead a split-second decision by Moses Mbye cost them the two points, and the Canterbury fullback would have learnt from that experience.

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All I hope is that other coaches also learn from what Bellamy did last night. He is truly the greatest coach of the modern era and the culture he has built at the Storm is a testament to that. It is a culture where individuals take direct responsibility for their actions and it is why the Melbourne Storm have enjoyed a dynasty of success.

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