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Craig Bellamy - The greatest coach ever?


The Daddy

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Melbourne and Bellamy in particular have never gone out on bought star names to get success like Bennett for example has done. So many have been no names (Blair, Green, Morgan, Chambers), cast offs (Norrie, Ryles, Hinchcliffe) and unwanted youngsters (Cronk, Slater and Smith all considered to small or not good enough by others, Bromwich Brothers, Munster) and Bellamy and his Coaching staff have improved them no end. And thats the difference for me between a very good Coach, who gets success, but usually because he has bought in quality players and a world class coach that can improve virtually anybody to be the best they can. Its not just the fact that the Storm have won 4 Grand Finals in such a short space of time of that they have the best record in the NRL in making the playoffs. Its the "Culture" that they have. Bellamy is the first person ALWAYS at training and demands that players put in the effort and get out of the comfort zone. The Pre Season is well known as being the hardest of any of the NRL teams. The attention to detail is unreal.

 

If you see the Workout area under the AAMI Stands its purpose built to test players to beyond the limits- Gym where you can train to 4000 metres-next door to the left is the swimming pool, Ice baths and recovery centre. The video room is on the otherside next to the changing rooms. Nothing is left to chance. I spent some time with Anthony Seibold who was then coaching U20s. He explained Bellamy and the coaching staff are not too much interested in how much talent or skill you have. What is important is how your attitude is and how far you will push yourself to succeed. The likes of Cronk are used as an example as to how far they want to improve. Those that are lazy or look to cut corners dont last long no matter who they are. Each coach at Melbourne must spend time at another sports club and look to learn something and report back- and that includes Bellamy! They have built a culture that hurts you physically and mentally. But the rewards are seen by most. Its part of the price for playing at Melbourne at any level. I have visited a few clubs and watched training and Melbourne was easily the one that stood out. 

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He is certainly on his way. Even if they lose this weekend. He has turned outcasts into profitable assets.

The Storm have been blessed with a great team and durability due to an ethos and culture that he drives and has kept a great. He will go down in history!

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Ex Swinton player for half a season before we screwed him over, that worked out well!!!!

"When you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose; it's how drunk you get." -Homer Simpson

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Surely it reinforces his ability? Many people would have done a runner or simply been found out after that.

Can look at it both ways. Built his reputation up after his club were overpaying players to begin with. It's still recent in the memory. Maybe a few more years of success will wipe it out for good

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Can look at it both ways. Built his reputation up after his club were overpaying players to begin with. It's still recent in the memory. Maybe a few more years of success will wipe it out for good

Surely he's built his reputation since those dark days,coached the side the following season to a winning record despite Melbourne being unable to play for points.Rebuilt the side and won a premiership with a team that included a large number of players no one else wanted,made the play offs every season since and has proved a mentor to a lot of good coaches who have gone on to become successful head coaches themselves.

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Bellamy has to be one of the best ever. For me a sign of a good coach is someone who can and does improve the game of every player under his charge.

His ability to keep regenerating the Storm is impressive and I will be interested to see how he deals with the imminent retirement of Smith and Cronk (if he doesn't retire then as well). If the success continues after this time, then I think it's fair to acknowledge him as the best RL coach ever.

"Rugby League is rugby in the simplest form in the sense that it's about great defence, great tackling technique, good handling, good passing, catching and great kicking."

 

 Stuart Lancaster - England Rugby Union Head Coach - October 2013

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Melbourne and Bellamy in particular have never gone out on bought star names to get success like Bennett for example has done. So many have been no names (Blair, Green, Morgan, Chambers), cast offs (Norrie, Ryles, Hinchcliffe) and unwanted youngsters (Cronk, Slater and Smith all considered to small or not good enough by others, Bromwich Brothers, Munster) and Bellamy and his Coaching staff have improved them no end. And thats the difference for me between a very good Coach, who gets success, but usually because he has bought in quality players and a world class coach that can improve virtually anybody to be the best they can. Its not just the fact that the Storm have won 4 Grand Finals in such a short space of time of that they have the best record in the NRL in making the playoffs. Its the "Culture" that they have. Bellamy is the first person ALWAYS at training and demands that players put in the effort and get out of the comfort zone. The Pre Season is well known as being the hardest of any of the NRL teams. The attention to detail is unreal.

 

If you see the Workout area under the AAMI Stands its purpose built to test players to beyond the limits- Gym where you can train to 4000 metres-next door to the left is the swimming pool, Ice baths and recovery centre. The video room is on the otherside next to the changing rooms. Nothing is left to chance. I spent some time with Anthony Seibold who was then coaching U20s. He explained Bellamy and the coaching staff are not too much interested in how much talent or skill you have. What is important is how your attitude is and how far you will push yourself to succeed. The likes of Cronk are used as an example as to how far they want to improve. Those that are lazy or look to cut corners dont last long no matter who they are. Each coach at Melbourne must spend time at another sports club and look to learn something and report back- and that includes Bellamy! They have built a culture that hurts you physically and mentally. But the rewards are seen by most. Its part of the price for playing at Melbourne at any level. I have visited a few clubs and watched training and Melbourne was easily the one that stood out. 

 

Excellent post.

 

No matter what the industry or sport, a philosophy of continuous improvement is absolutely critical to success.  Standing still is always going backwards.

 

While talent is massively important, without the attitude to go with it you will fail (and you will in fact be a catalyst for failure in your wider group as poor attitudes are disruptive).  It may sound like management speak but it is fundamentally true.

"The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby.

"If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris

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His achievements are great. But while he presided over them through the Cap Breach years I don't think he can be considered the greatest ever - when the club were proved to be cheating

It was wrong, but all the Club did was overpay players like Inglis, Folau, Smith, Cronk, Slater etc that had come up through the system they had. Its not as if they went out and bought top names like others have done. And every NRL club has been cheating the cap and most received fines. Others got lucky and got away with things. Bellamy/Melbourne have never gone out and bought a top international in like the Broncos, Roosters, Bunnies, Warriors, Cowboys etc have done. 

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If every club could retain the best players that come through their systems regardless of salary cap then we would have a very different competition.

Melbourne officials intentionally breached the cap over a number of seasons and the club was punished accordingly.

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