Craig Bellamy admitted it’s going to take time for Melbourne to learn to play without Cameron Smith after his absence was clear in the Storm’s loss to Parramatta.
Thursday’s night 16-12 defeat was a game almost made for Smith, where the Eels dominated a long tug-of-war with points hard to come by in wet conditions.
Melbourne completed at just 70 per cent in the second half and could only get one play-the-ball in the Eels’ 20 in that second period as Parramatta maintained the ascendancy.
It was the type of match where Smith would traditionally drill a long kick early out of dummy-half or regain the momentum of the game around the ruck.
“You can say (it was made for him), but he ain’t playing,” Bellamy said.
“We would like to put him in, ‘halftime Smithy, out you go’. We’re still learning a bit of that. That’s part of it.
“We just have to take that responsibility.”
Replacing Smith was always going to be about more than just finding a new No.9 for Melbourne, given his 19 seasons and 430 games experience.
But the Storm do have another challenge at dummy-half, with Bellamy revealing that Harry Grant could still miss another month with a knee injury.
The reigning premiers also have Penrith next Thursday night in a grand final rematch at Panthers Stadium.
And it’s from there, Bellamy wants his leadership group to find their voice.
The veteran coach admitted his team in the second half lost their way slightly in the season-opening win against South Sydney, but unlike that match they were unable stop the slide against the Eels.
“Sitting in the dressing room at halftime thinking we just need to keep completing the ball and stay patient,” Bellamy said.
“But it’s like ‘the bloke next to me has to do that’, but I don’t know if they’re seeing the necessity of them doing it.
“Smithy would be picking them up out there.
“That’s still a little part we need to get right to cover from what he has brought us in the game over the years in a game like that.”
© AAP
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Who are the hardest working big men in the NRL?
The Roosters coach wasn't happy after a number of controversial calls went against them in their loss to the Storm - does he have…
Death, taxes and the Storm defying pre-season predictions that this year will be the one when they slip down the ladder. Inevitably, seven rounds…
The Storm wasted their Captain's Challenge in the first four minutes against the Roosters with the Nine team left wondering if they even knew…
Ryan Papenhuyzen was pleading for James Tedesco to be sent for ten. Was the Roosters skipper lucky to stay on the field?
This could've been disastrous for the Storm. Jahrome Hughes looked to have earnt a penalty but the non-call snowballed with Cameron Munster soon sent…
