LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy

From gung-ho to grand master: Inside Craig's 23-year journey of discovery

It's hard to envision master motivator Craig Bellamy, at 65, harboring any doubts about his coaching prowess as he efficiently leads his team and articulates his vision.

Now on the verge of becoming only the fourth person in premiership history to reach 600 coaching games, Bellamy has an impressive resume. His career includes 22 finals series across 23 seasons with the Storm, along with seven Dally M Coach of the Year awards and three premiership titles.

However, reflecting on his inaugural season in 2003 reveals a different narrative; the Storm began the season with a lackluster record of 6-6 after 13 rounds. In those early days, the man known as 'Bellyache' openly confessed to feeling a bit uneasy.