Craig Bellamy Slams ‘Complacent’ Storm Following Gritty Victory Over Panthers: ‘Not Happy at All’

The Storm may have claimed victory over the Penrith Panthers on Thursday, but coach Craig Bellamy expressed dissatisfaction with the signs of complacency he observed on the field.

Melbourne navigated a tumultuous encounter against the four-time defending champions, who struggled to adjust following Nathan Cleary’s early exit just eight minutes into the match.

Coach Ivan Cleary praised his side’s resilience, acknowledging their “brave” fight right up to the final whistle, despite facing significant hurdles themselves.

Meanwhile, the mood in the home team’s dressing room was notably different, with Bellamy admitting to feeling “disappointed” by his players’ display.

The seasoned coach conceded that his players may have opened the door for the Panthers’ resurgence, falling into a mindset that the match would be straightforward without Cleary.

“I’m not happy at all,” Bellamy stated in his post-match interview with Nine.

“We began well, but then we became a bit complacent, which I really don’t appreciate in our side.

“Maybe we could have maintained that momentum, but with Nathan’s departure, the thought might have been, ‘Their main player is out. This will be easy now.’

“You don’t consciously think that, but it creeps in.”

Bellamy did find some satisfaction in the decision to take the two points, but added, “I’m honestly quite disappointed.”

When probed about whether his team lost focus after Cleary left the field or after they amassed 14 points, Bellamy suggested that it was “a bit of both.”

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With Penrith aiming for a fifth consecutive premiership, Bellamy stressed that the Storm must fully comprehend that the contest was never going to be straightforward.

“We should’ve recognised that Penrith has been in the last five grand finals and won four of them,” he remarked.

“They know how to win. This club has enjoyed enduring success over time.

“They understand that even if they lose a few key players, they still have the will to play and know how to secure a win.”