LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Craig Bellamy's involvement as an NSW assistant coach could have significant repercussions for his club, the Melbourne Storm, especially regarding Harry Grant's performance in the State of Origin opener.
Bellamy's strategic insight was evident in the Blues' plan to target Grant, resulting in one of his poorest showings for Queensland during their 18-6 loss to NSW at Suncorp Stadium.
Grant managed only 23 metres and struggled with his impact, missing five tackles and giving away a crucial seven-tackle set due to a misplaced bomb.
Additionally, he committed a needless penalty for ruck interference.
The lack of spark from Grant in dummy half was especially concerning.
His diminished performance can be attributed to his lack of match fitness, stemming from limited play-only 55 minutes against Cronulla since a hamstring injury sidelined him since round seven.
Bellamy would have anticipated that the Blues might capitalize on Grant's compromised preparation, a sentiment echoed by NSW coach Laurie Daley.
"I don't know how much Harry has done," Daley commented, noting Grant's under-preparedness for the game.
"He'll be a little bit underdone.
If he's making 50 to 60 tackles, he could be buggered." This prediction proved accurate during the match.
The Blues' strategy mirrored the successful tactics employed by Penrith in the previous grand final, with Blues captain Isaah Yeo acting more aggressively than usual.
Supported by a powerful forward pack featuring Payne Haas and Mitch Barnett, the Blues frequently targeted Grant, forcing him into a high defensive workload.
Even when Queensland coach Billy Slater substituted Tom Dearden for Grant after 53 minutes, it was evident that Grant had been overwhelmed, appearing exhausted and unable to make a significant impact.
Ultimately, Grant returned for the closing moments of the game but could not revive his team's performance, finishing with an exhausting 43 tackles in just 59 minutes.
The cumulative effect of the rigorous targeting and Grant's lack of fitness raises questions about the repercussions of Bellamy's strategic choices as they relate to both his role in the NSW team and the Melbourne Storm.