Bellamy and the amazing technicolour Dream Coates

STORM sensation Xavier Coates has opened up about why he quit the Broncos ahead of his Magic Round return to Brisbane.

Coates will run on to Suncorp Stadium against Penrith on Saturday night for the first time since rejecting the Broncos last year to join Craig Bellamy in Melbourne.

With 10 tries in eight games this season, Coates has already taken his game to another level and is in the box seat to retain his Queensland jersey for Origin I next month.

Having blooded him in the NRL in 2019, the Broncos were desperate to retain Coates last year after the Storm targeted the athletic winger.

But with Brisbane battling to avoid a second wooden spoon in coach Kevin Walters’ first season in charge, Coates opted to ink a two-year deal with the Storm, which he recently extended until 2026.

Coates, 21, first met with Bellamy in December 2020 and six months later he signed to the Storm.

Now, in the lead-up to his return to the River City, Coates revealed why he chose Melbourne over Brisbane.

“It wasn’t anything wrong with the Broncos,” he said.

“I thought Melbourne had a really good opportunity down here, especially with a coach like Craig. Certain players have come down here (and thrived) and certain players he’s produced. I really wanted to experience that, to be put into this sort of environment to help me flourish.

“It wasn’t anything the Broncos did wrong. I just saw the Melbourne move as a really good opportunity for myself and my growth.

“It is hard work straight away from the first day. I was struggling pretty badly but then I found my feet as you start to do more sessions. It slowly gets a bit easier here and there, but it’s not an easy pre-season by any means. It definitely helps you when it comes to in-season.

“It’s gone above and beyond (my expectations). The staff and players here … you can’t get any better than that.”