To Cam with love
Bellamy’s pre-match letter of inspiration
CAMERON Smith read the emotional words of Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy in a letter inside the ANZ Stadium dressingrooms, 24 hours before the grand final victory.
Bellamy labelled Smith “the best he had seen” before continuing with “no matter how great the pressure, you never break”.
The tribute was part of a highly personal letter presentation made to each member of Storm’s playing squad at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
In the lead-up to previous grand finals, Storm players have presented each other with their jerseys before giving an emotional spiel on their teammates.
This time around players were asked to nominate someone outside the bubble early last week and have them pen a letter for them to read the night before the game.
All except Smith selected someone. Smith said he did not want any extra emotion.
Instead, Storm’s skipper was given the ultimate tribute by Bellamy, who had penned a personal tribute to Smith as part of Channel 9’s coverage in the lead-up to Sunday’s game.
Bellamy wrote and read the tribute before it was turned into a letter for Smith by head of football Frank Ponissi.
“You are playing your 430th game, and for 428 of them I’ve been your coach,” the letter read. “Will this be your last? I don’t know. I don’t think you know. For the next 80 minutes it won’t matter because all you want to do is win.
“You’ve never said this to me, but I reckon when you missed the 2008 grand final through suspension, it really hurt you. Our heavy defeat that night created a look of desire in your eye before the 2009 finals series that I’ve never seen before and I’ve never seen since.
“For me you’re the best. No matter how great the pressure, you never break. Never has. Never does.
“Cameron, thank you for everything you’ve done for this club. For the game and for me.”
The letters were given to the players along with their jerseys on Saturday night.
Tears flowed. Cameron Munster, Brenko Lee and Christian Welch chose their parents. Munster said “he had a tear in his eye” when his parents wrote about his childhood dreams to play in the NRL and play fullback for the Titans.
For Justin Olam, it was a friend from Papua New Guinea. And fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen said he was inspired by words from Storm legend Billy Slater.
“I wanted to hear from him because I have looked up to him for a long time,” Papenhuyzen said.
“He just remembered a couple of conversations we had. One was when I was the third string (fullback). He remembers me going up to him and asking what I need to do to make first grade. He said: ‘From that point I knew you were going to be successful, so enjoy it — you’re not here by luck, it is all hard work.’ ”
Lee was unable to finish the letter he received from his mum Aiaga. On the rugby league scrap heap earlier this year, Lee is now a premiership winner and part of the Queensland Origin squad.
“She told me they loved me no matter what and she was happy to see me happy again and enjoying the sport,” Lee said. “I couldn’t read the letter at the stadium. I had to wait until I got into my room to read it by myself.
“I got too emotional.” Dale Finucane chose his cousin Michael Finucane.
“It might have been a funny letter, it might have been serious letter. But it was a good mix of both,” he said.