Craig Bellamy has praised Tui Kamikamica as one of the finest clubmen he has ever encountered after the Melbourne prop announced his retirement following a serious medical incident.
Kamikamica officially concluded his playing career on Thursday, nearly five months after suffering a stroke that necessitated heart and brain surgery, putting his playing future in jeopardy.
The 32-year-old was in good spirits as he bid farewell to the Melbourne crowd before Thursday night's 22-14 defeat to Penrith, carrying his young child while waving from the field.
Originating from the Fijian island of Taveuni, the imposing Kamikamica became a fan favorite during his 142 NRL appearances with the Storm from 2017 to 2026.
Longtime Storm coach Bellamy holds fond memories of Kamikamica for his leadership qualities and loyalty off the field.
Having coached greats like Cameron Smith and Billy Slater, Bellamy noted that few players have shown as much heart for the club as Kamikamica.
"What he's done for the club in the time he's been here, that would be very, very hard to repeat. Everyone loves him," Bellamy stated.
"That's not just me, it's everyone in the club. They all love him because he's such a genuine guy and a real decent guy.
"He's been one of the best clubmen that I've ever seen, coaching and playing. I couldn't give him a bigger rap than that."
On the field, Kamikamica contributed important size to the Storm's pack during a time when larger players were scarce.
"Every time he laced his boots on and went out and played, he'd give it his all," Bellamy remarked.
"I'm just honoured to have been his coach for a little while and got to know Tui as a footy player but got to know him as a man as well.
"I haven't worked with too many better people in the game than Tui."
Bellamy expressed disappointment over a slow start on Thursday night, with the Storm's slim finals aspirations dashed by the Panthers.
Brian To'o scored three tries, helping Penrith to a 22-0 advantage before Melbourne staged a late comeback.
"We started slowly and didn't really get into the game," Bellamy observed.
"The second half obviously was much better from the point of view but if you get 22 points behind Penrith … we were probably never really going to be coming back."