LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Craig Bellamy, former NSW State of Origin coach from 2008 to 2010, is back in the camp this week as an advisor to Laurie Daley, tasked with strategizing against his own players from the Melbourne Storm.
During his previous tenure, Bellamy struggled with the challenge of plotting against stars like Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, and Cooper Cronk, ultimately leading to only two wins in nine games before he left the role.
Now, 15 years later, Bellamy faces a similar situation, needing to devise tactics against current Storm players such as Xavier Coates, Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, and Trent Loiero.
Notably, Slater is now the Queensland coach, complicating Bellamy's task further.
On Sunday, Harry Grant spoke to the media about the situation, emphasizing his focus on the upcoming game rather than Bellamy's strategies.
"I haven't had any contact with Craig," Grant stated.
"I probably haven't thought about it too much.
If I worry about what he is doing or what he is saying it will take too much attention away from my game and my team and the game on Wednesday night.
I just need to worry about preparing well and performing well."
This return for Bellamy raises questions about how he will manage to balance his loyalty to his club players and his role in the State of Origin setup.
With the stakes high for the Origin opener on Wednesday night, both his strategic planning and the dynamic of his relationships with Storm players could play a significant role in the outcome.