Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has admitted he may never get over last year’s preliminary final loss to eventual premiers Penrith.
The Storm entered that clash at Suncorp Stadium as heavy favourites having won 21 of their last 22 games, but ultimately went down to a stubborn Panthers side 10-6.
With a whole season of outstanding work coming apart with one poor 80 minute performance, all the while being just one score away from winning and progressing to another Grand Final, Bellamy explained why he felt that result was the one that got away.
“I’m not quite sure I’ll ever get over that loss to be honest,” Bellamy said on SEN Breakfast.
“After the year we had, what happened and how we played, that was the disappointing thing.
“Again, we obviously didn’t win that and we would’ve had another game to go.
“But I think that form we were in during the season and the way the competition went, how the game was styled with a few rule changes, it was probably the most winnable competition we’ve had (a chance at) since i’ve been here.
“We’ve won a few since I’ve been here, but I just thought, you know, some of the way rules were interpreted, it really suited our style of play.”
Without making excuses for the loss, Bellamy did concede that the fact that the club was based in Queensland for a second straight year wasn’t easy on his playing group at that late stage of the campaign.
“It was disappointing to go out like that, but having said that, it was our second year away and the competition probably went on a month too long for us,” Bellamy explained.
“Some of the families weren’t with us and I think it wore a few of the boys down.
“I try not to think too much about the end and instead think about the season and how good our guys were.
“Some of the footy we played that year was great and we just want to keep doing that and hopefully we improve on that.”
Having won the premiership in 2020, the Storm will be hoping to return to the top of the mountaintop in 2022 as Bellamy chases his fourth premiership.
The Storm kick off their campaign this season with a Round 1 clash against the Wests Tigers at CommBank Stadium on March 12.
