Bellamy must iron out errors

CRAIG Bellamy’s contract status is insignificant, if only for the next 80 minutes of football.

With a bye next week and State of Origin on the horizon, Melbourne Storm must iron out issues on the field first and then worry about Bellamy’s unsigned multimillion-dollar deal.

They know the root of all evil is ball control.

Shoddy handling has led to poor completions and a bulging error count.

During the second half last week, Storm turned the ball over twice in every three possessions.

Melbourne is ranked equal first – or worst – in the competition for handling errors (57) after 11 rounds, second for errors (136) and fifth overall for ineffective tackles (178).

Suliasi Vunivalu is the club’s worst offender (17 errors), including a game-high four in the 20-point loss to Manly last week, from Will Chambers (12) and Josh Addo-Carr (12).

Conditions in Townsville will not be conducive to improved handling, with showers and thunderstorms forecast, but Storm must find a way against North Queensland.

The blunders have been contagious so far this season and, on recent form alone, threaten to derail a finals campaign let along title defence.

Bellamy is a master of coaching the now and not looking too far back or too far ahead.

If you think the premiership mastermind is worried about his contract, then think again.

All that matters to Bellamy right now clean hands and being back on the winner’s list.

The contract stalemate – one way or another – could be settled during next week’s bye.

Storm captain Cameron Smith returns from suspension tonight, while enforcer Jesse Bromwich (knee) should play barring any further setbacks.

They set the standard on the field, with traditionally clean hands and cool heads.

If Storm is to reign supreme tonight, in what doubles as Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston’s last stand against best mate Smith, then the Melbourne captain’s fingerprints will be all over the result.