Storm coach Bellamy's advice to embattled All Blacks coach Ian Foster
Craig Bellamy isn’t resorting to any fast fixes to arrest Melbourne’s alarming form slump that has seen the Storm lose their last four NRL games, but had some advice for All Blacks coach Ian Foster who is under similar pressure.
Ahead of their fixture against the Warriors in Auckland, Bellamy was asked about the All Blacks, who this month suffered a historic series defeat against Ireland piling the pressure on coach Ian Foster.
The master coach shared similar advice for Foster.
“He should just stick to what he believes in, what he knows works for the All Blacks,” Bellamy said.
“There’s no miracle cure, as we know over the last month, so make sure you stick to what your values and beliefs are and don’t drift off into something that’s not that important or isn’t going to help.”
Meanwhile, with the 13th-placed Warriors playing just their second home game since 2019 after being forced to relocate to Australia due to COVID travel restrictions, Bellamy said they deserved some kind of compensation from the NRL.
He was also open to shifting their annual Anzac Day fixture from Melbourne to Mount Smart.
“I don’t know what – but we could give them four, five or six competition points to start with as they probably deserve it,” Bellamy said.
“What they’ve done for the game has been unbelievable … they’ve made a lot of sacrifices, a lot more than any other team in the competition.
“We all should tip our hats to the Warriors, congratulate them, and be really grateful for what they’ve done for our game.”
Once a top-two lock, injury-hit Melbourne have dropped to fifth and are in danger of surrendering hopes of a top-four finish and a finals second chance.
Ahead of their clash with the Warriors in Auckland on Friday night, the Storm coach says he’s going back to basics rather than search for anything new.
Bellamy says he wants to see more consistent effort from his players if they’re to avoid equalling their worst run of consecutive losses since 2012.
They were able to overcome five-straight losses late in that season to win the premiership but they had the likes of superstars Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk steering the ship.
“We’re looking at the things that are important to our game and most of those things are around consistent effort,” Bellamy said on Thursday in Auckland.
“That’s probably what we haven’t been so good at in the last couple of weeks.
“We don’t want to panic because that won’t get us anywhere.
“For us it’s not about winning or losing at the moment it’s about finding a bit of form and being more consistent with doing the things that we know are important to us to perform.
“We’ve gone back to really nailing those things down at training, and then hopefully, we’ll improve in the games.”
Comments on RugbyPass
100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to comments