Craig Bellamy reveals the big problem that has left him ‘concerned’ after Storm fell to dismal loss

Craig Bellamy admitted he was ‘concerned’ by his team’s perceived ‘lack of competing’ in Melbourne‘s emphatic 36-6 defeat against the Cowboys on Saturday night.

Still without injured stars Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Hughes, the Storm trailed 12-6 at halftime, but collapsed as North Queensland scored four tries in 12 second half minutes.

The defeat left the Storm second on the ladder with an 8-3 record, ahead of the Cowboys only on points differential and trailing leaders Penrith by four points. 

Craig Bellamy admitted he was ‘concerned’ with Melbourne’s ‘lack of competing’

‘I thought we really lacked some cohesion but we can handle that to be honest,’ Bellamy, who signed a one-year extension to remain at the Storm until the end of next season, said after the game.

‘I thought there was a lack of competing tonight which really disappointed me.’

A week ago, Bellamy noted the Storm’s 32-6 hammering at the hands of the Panthers in Magic Round was a much-needed wake-up call for a team he felt wasn’t as good as some had given them credit for during the first nine rounds of the season.

On Saturday, however, Bellamy admitted there was no silver lining to be found in the loss against the Cowboys.

The Storm fell to a 36-6 defeat against the Cowboys on Saturday night in Townsville

The Cowboys ran in six tries on Saturday, including four in a 12-minute blitz in the second half

‘Yeah I’m concerned,’ he continued.

‘We can handle being outplayed and we can handle being beat but at the end of the day when we beat ourselves through lack of competing in doing the little things really well — that’s an area for concern. 

‘We need to have a look at that and go from there. […] I’m just really disappointed in some of those areas we need to compete if you’re going to win a game in the NRL.’

Having played two of the top three teams in the competition in the past two weeks, the Storm welcome ninth-placed Manly next week at AAMI Park. 

Bellamy questioned his team’s desire and fight after a dismal performance in Round 11

Like Melbourne, the Sea Eagles have lost back-to-back games and will be without Tom Trbojevic, with the star fullback out for the season with a dislocated shoulder.

Bellamy doesn’t expect Papenhuyzen and Hughes to be available for Round 11, but insisted injuries weren’t the reason behind the Storm’s two defeats in the last two weeks.

‘That’s not our issue — our issue is guys being willing to roll up their sleeves and compete,’ he said.