Craig Bellamy on The Serve
Storm coach Craig Bellamy has quickly established himself as one of the rugby league coaching elite. He does however carry the baggage of losing a grand final and living a town where league pales into insignificance. He opens up to The Serve’s Dan Ginnane.
Dan Ginnane: The trend is for grand final teams struggle early in the next season. Are you surprised it’s gone this well, this early?
Craig Bellamy: No, not really. We had a good pre-season and worked hard. And we put the grand final thing behind us early in the pre season and decided it’s a whole new year and we can’t change happened last year. I’ve been really happy with the attitude.
DG: Have you watched a tape of the grand final?
CB: No. I don’t think Ill ever watch it mate. (pause) No.
DG: How long did it take for you to come to terms?
CB: We decided to put in on the shelf. I think everyone still hurts a bit. I’m sure all players and coached who have lost grand finals are in the same boat. It’s certainly still in the back of our mind, but we didn’t want it to affect what’s happened this year, because its got nothing to do with this year, really. Last year is gone. I think we’ll always hurt a little bit by it, but at the end of the day, that’s what happens in footy.
DG: What did you learn about the week, about the team, about yourself? What did you learn about coaching in a grand final?
CB: I think the main thing, if we did make an error - or if I made an error - it was keeping the team too normal. I think if you’re in Brisbane, or Sydney, or Canberra or Townville, whatever, it’s a rugby league town, so there’s lots of excitement around, so I think that mentality is the right way to go. But down here, it didn’t really cause much of a ripple with the AFL semi finals on. I think if we had our time over again, we’d make it a little bit more special.
DG: Who’s your AFL team?
CB: When I first came, I followed Richmond a little bit, because I knew the coach Danny Frawley. He’s a real good guy. We did a little bit of cross-training with them at one stage. I suppose I’ve got a little bit of an interest now in the Demons, because I know Neale Daniher fairly well. I talk to him about once a month. And I must say I’ve also got a soft spot for the Swans. I love the way they play and go about their business, with that team attitude, that ‘do it for the team’.
DG: I’m glad you said that, because Richmond and Melbourne are 0 and 7 each - you were 0 and 14 until Sydney. What can coaches share when they’re in different codes?
CB: Getting the best out of players. Getting the best out of your leadership group. Especially getting the best out of the older players. All those sort of discussions come up. It’s not so much tactical, its more trying to the find the best systems and the best processes to bring the best out of the team and best out of the individuals.
DG: When you came to the Storm, you hit the ground running, but what makes you a better coach now than when you started?
CB: A lot of people probably wouldn’t believe it, but I think I’m a little bit more - I don’t know whether calm is the right word - but certainly with the half time talks and full time talks, when things haven’t gone as well as they should’ve, I wouldn’t say I’m relaxed, but certainly more steady and less emotional. I don’t know whether that makes me a better coach or not, but at times I said a few things before I thought, as a younger coach, whereas now, I know the players are probably hurting a bit too, and I realise that. Perhaps, I’m a little less emotional and perhaps a have a little more common sense
DG: So you didn’t mind a spray?
CB: No, I was pretty good. I still give one every now and then, I must say. But they’re not as common as they were four or five years ago.
| > | The interview: Anthony Mundine |
| > | The interview: Mark Ricciuto |
| > | The interview: Tadhg Kennelly |
| > | The interview: Craig Bellamy |
| > | The interview: Brian Waldron |
| > | The interview: Mark Geyer |
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