The Blues will have the opportunity to pick the brain of super coach Craig Bellamy after the Melbourne mentor was invited into the inner sanctum in the lead-up to the first match of the State of Origin series.
Bellamy has been extended an invitation to dine with the squad at the swanky Il Duca restaurant in East Melbourne on Monday night, two days before the game. It will give the current team and staff an opportunity to seek his counsel, as well as that of other luminaries who have featured in previous interstate campaigns.
Craig Bellamy at Blues training in 2010.
Photo: Dallas Kilponen
Bellamy is no stranger to the State of Origin arena. The premiership-winning coach oversaw three campaigns as NSW coach, between 2008 and 2010, but a series win proved elusive. The 58-year-olds stocks have risen considerably since, winning premierships and confirming the Storm as the NRLs benchmark side.
He is now considered the best coach in the game and has been offered the job at the Broncos in a move that could prematurely end the career of seven-time title-winner Wayne Bennett at Red Hill.
Bellamy always struggled to coach against his former Storm players during Origin, one of the factors behind his decision to step down from the role. While Maroons stalwarts Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk have retired from representative level, Melbourne will still provide Billy Slater, Will Chambers, Cameron Munster and Felise Kaufusi to the Maroons side for the opening game at the MCG.
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Bellamy isnt expected to formally address the team during Mondays gathering. However, the Blues brains trust – which includes Brad Fittler, Andrew Johns, Danny Buderus and Greg Alexander – will undoubtedly use the opportunity to bounce ideas off the games best clipboard holder.
Blues debutant Josh Addo-Carr praised Bellamy for the role he played in turning him into a representative player, believing his presence would be a timely boost for NSW.
Super coach: Craig Bellamy has been invited inside the Blues' inner sanctum.
Photo: AAP
“That would be good for the team,” Addo-Carr said. “He does love a little story. Id be looking forward to it.
“Hes played a massive role (in my career). (Hes helped) turn me into the player Ive always dreamed of being.
“Moving down to Melbourne is the best decision Ive ever made. They have been really good to me and my family.”
Asked what qualities Bellamy saw in him, the man dubbed The Fox said: “Probably a competitor. In saying that, I had to work hard for my spot. There are a lot of talented players down there. The club is definitely based on effort and family and I definitely put the effort in when I moved down there.”
Bellamy wont be the only renowned coach dining with the team. Former Magpies and Dragons coach Roy Masters is also expected to attend.
The Herald columnist has previously addressed Blues teams, twice under Ricky Stuart and also during the tenure of Laurie Daley. Masters also hasnt been asked to prepare a formal speech but will undoubtedly be a valuable sounding board for the current players and staff.
It wont be the only special gathering in the countdown to the opener. The players have been asked to invite their families to a lunch at the surf club at Coogee on Friday, an opportunity to thank them for the role they have played in their climb to the representative ranks.
The camp is already a family affair for Manlys Trbojevic brothers, with debutant Tom joining big brother Jake in the squad this year. Tom said their parents were overjoyed with their selection.
“They have been with us the whole journey. They were the ones driving us to training from five-year-olds to 16, 17-year-olds,” Tom Trbojevic said.
“They are at every game. They love their footy and are very proud parents.
“They will be down at the MCG cheering us on.”
Trbojevic said he has sought the counsel of his sibling to get an understanding of what to expect in the Origin arena.
“Ive spoken to him. He played last year and really enjoyed it,” he said.
“Its hard (to know what) to expect because its so quick. I dont fully know what its going to be like but I cant wait to get the opportunity.”
Adrian Proszenko is the Chief Rugby League Reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald.
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