Craig Bellamy needs to reinvent the Storm – and fast

April 16, 2026 — 5:25am

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Melbourne have lost four in a row, which means something has to change.

Craig Bellamy said it after they lost to the Warriors last week: it’s not just up to the players to make it happen, it’s up to the coaching staff, too – and that includes himself.

The truth is, teams are taking advantage of Melbourne’s less experienced players, especially on their edges, where their defence has been poor.

Outside back Moses Leo (who is now on the bench) is still adjusting after coming across from rugby union, while edge forwards Cooper Clarke and Joe Chan are still getting used to week in week out footy.

The other thing they’re missing is their big men up front. Nelson Asofa-Solomona has gone to boxing, while Tui Kamikamica is recovering after having a stroke, and we don’t know when he’ll return for Melbourne. But the player Melbourne are missing the most is Eli Katoa on the right edge, and there’s no certainty around when, or if, he’ll be back playing footy.

Katoa is a try-scorer. He chases kicks, scores off bombs and takes pressure off Jahrome Hughes, so they’re really struggling for that go-forward at the ruck, and that’s all new for Harry Grant, Cameron Munster and Hughes.

They’ve got to look at their own game and tweak the way they’re playing until they get the big men back.

In the games they have lost, their opposition has played very well. Brisbane were sensational when they beat them in Melbourne. They got beaten by Penrith which, as I’ve said before, was the best performance I’ve ever seen by a team, and then they lost to the Warriors.

I don’t think any team could have beaten the Warriors last week – they were on fire.

The question........

© Brisbane Times