- Club suffered two heavy losses heading into NRL finals
- Coach has revealed what was missing in those losses
- Restored the missing element in win over Bulldogs
Superstition plays a big part in sport, just ask Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy.
The Storm booked their place in a preliminary final on Friday night with a hard-fought 26-18 victory over a gallant Canterbury, who played much of the match without injured skipper Stephen Crichton.
It was a relief for Storm fans, who were left worried when the club copped two heavy losses heading into the NRL finals.
First, the Sydney Roosters belted them 40-10, before the Brisbane Broncos claimed a 30-14 win in the final round of the regular season.
Now Bellamy has revealed to media what was missing during those two games – a bracelet that was made by his grandson.
‘Craig Bellamy came up after the presser last night to show us his bracelet and said his grandson made it,’ Channel 7 reporter Jelisa Apps posted.
Craig Bellamy and the Melbourne Storm snapped a two-game losing streak to beat the Bulldogs in week 1 of the NRL finals
The veteran mentor revealed he had not been wearing a bracelet his grandson made him during those losses, but he wore it during the Bulldogs win
The Storm are now just one win away from another grand final appearance after holding off a brave and battered Bulldogs
‘He realised the two games the Storm lost that he had taken it off.
‘So he ‘had to put it back on and then we won’.’
Bellamy has four grandchildren: his son Aaron’s children Billy, Bowie, and Sunny, and another grandchild from his Daughter Keeley, who is named Poppy.
It is Melbourne’s 18th preliminary final – their 10th in the past 11 years under Craig Bellamy – as they chase a 12th grand final berth.
Bellamy wasn’t entirely happy with his team, but also praised their opponents.
‘I thought we really started the game well, but I thought we lost our way with the ball a bit. I think what hung us in today’s game was our defence,’ he said.
‘You’ve got to give the Bulldogs a lot of credit too as they had a few injuries there and they had to move different people to different positions and whatever, but they kept fighting all the way.
‘It’s really nice to be in another prelim. I think the nicest thing, especially for the players at this time of year, they get a week off playing.’
While unhappy with some of the refereeing calls that went against his side, Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo hailed his team’s bravery.
‘It’s one of the bravest performances I’ve seen or been involved in,’ he said.
‘I’m just incredibly proud of how they prepared and how they played.
‘A lot’s been said about how we’ve been playing, but we came down here full of belief and played like it and the mission stays the same.
‘We’ve still got three wins to do what we want to do.’
