Cameron Smith, a former star of the Queensland Maroons, supports Craig Bellamy’s recent decision to step back from his role with New South Wales (NSW) in light of the Melbourne Storm’s struggling performance. Ahead of the season, reports indicated that Bellamy would not continue as a coaching consultant, and he has since confirmed this move.
The Storm is facing an alarming streak, having lost six consecutive matches, including a significant defeat against the Rabbitohs, which left Bellamy declaring it to be the most embarrassing moment of his career in rugby league. Smith expressed that focusing solely on the Storm is the right approach for Bellamy during this challenging time.
Reflecting on Bellamy’s past experiences when coaching the Blues in previous years, Smith recalled how he observed the impact on Bellamy’s focus on club preparations. He commended Bellamy for prioritising the Storm’s needs, particularly as the team navigates a tricky patch.
Smith described the current form of the Storm as “unfamiliar territory” for the players, many of whom are feeling flat and lacking in confidence. Drawing from his own experiences, Smith recounted a tough season in 2012 when the Storm lost five matches in a row. During that period, Bellamy reached out to Smith after a match, uncertain of the next steps. Together, they narrowed their focus, simplifying their game and refining their training approach, which ultimately led to a turnaround in performance.
He also pointed out comments made by players Cameron Munster and Harry Grant after the Rabbitohs loss, highlighting their confusion about the disconnect between training standards and match-day performance. Smith saw this as a positive sign, indicating that the players’ preparation had been adequate and that persistence is essential for improvement.
The Storm’s next challenge will be against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, and Smith remains optimistic about their ability to overcome the current struggles if they can maintain their focus and commitment to simplifying their approach.