Craig Bellamy has lamented a ”fair few” refereeing decisions during Melbourne’s 14-6 loss to the Roosters to leave the Storm’s finals hopes on a knife’s edge.
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The Storm were very brave given the stack of possession the Roosters had on Melbourne’s line, and his side’s effort pleased Bellamy, but he believed they were also hard done by at times.
One glaring officiating blunder that went against the Storm occurred in the second half when referee Gerard Sutton failed to ping the Roosters for not kicking a drop out before the shot clock buzzer.
If awarded, the Storm would have received a penalty right in front and likely levelled the game at 8-8.
When asked about the decision, Bellamy noted there were a few others he thought were contentious.
BOMBED chances for Storm | 00:27
“Well that was probably one. I think there was a fair few to be quite honest,” Bellamy said.
“I think we had a try disallowed and it might have been disallowed but it should’ve gone to the video ref and I think they scored a try off the next set of six. Having said that, we played a part in not stopping that try but there were a couple of big decisions out there today.
“Six to eight weeks ago we got done for taking too long with a line drop out.
“At the end of the day, it is what it is. It ain’t going to change but I thought the effort of our players was tremendous.
“I probably will (ask the NRL for a please explain. It’s really disappointing but you can’t change it unfortunately.”
Storm legend Cooper Cronk believes Bellamy’s comments were telling.
“That was interesting. Craig Bellamy hardly talks about the refs,” Cronk said post-game.
Two MASSIVE missed calls | 00:34
While there were plenty the Storm can take out of tonight’s game, particularly without their two starting halves Cam Munster and Jahrome Hughes, it was mostly a sour night for the club.
Not only did they lose, leaving the club facing a tall task to make the eight, but their horror injury run continued when Will Warbrick suffered a ruptured Achilles.
Warbrick is the club’s second premier winger to suffer a ruptured Achilles following Xavier Coates.
With Warbrick heading to the Warriors next season, he has likely played his final game for Melbourne.
“It’s not great,” a sullen Bellamy said.
”The two wingers we had at the start of the year are as goog as wingers in the game I believe and we’ve lost both of them to the same injury, and it’s severe injury.
“It’s a shame for Will to end his career with us on that note. He’s been tremendous for us at the Storm and I hope he has great success at the Warriors.”