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Bellamy blast has Storm primed to continue NRL opening round record
Joel Gould, AAP •  February 24th, 2026 10:37 pm
Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Craig Bellamy's incredible Melbourne round one record goes on the line next week and a reality check from the coach to his players about defensive effort has them on notice.
The Storm are unbeaten in the opening fixture since Bellamy took the reins in 2003 - racking up 22 successive wins - with 2004 not counting as they had a first-round bye.
Melbourne's defensive standards were well below par in the 42-12 thrashing by Gold Coast on Saturday night.
While it was only a trial, bad habits can be contagious and utility star Tyran Wishart said the players knew the areas they must improve when playing away to Parramatta next Thursday night.
"Our defence wasn't good enough, to put it pretty simply," Wishart said.
"We knew that, but Craig was pretty vocal in that space. We needed it.
"We needed to have a look at ourselves and to fix what we didn't do right. Defence was the main thing.
"We've got a lot to fix before round one but now's the time to get those bad areas out of the way, so we will be working on them. Come round one hopefully we will be firing."
Perth-bound Tyran Wishart was one of Melbourne's best against Gold Coast in a poor team display | Photo: Darren England/AAP
While Wishart said the round one record was not a talking point in the Storm's inner sanctum, it is a tribute to how the side starts seasons under Bellamy.
"Obviously it is a pretty special achievement on Craig's behalf so we want to keep it going," Wishart said.
"If you are in a position to play finals games, that is probably a bit more important. For us players, we want to do Craig proud, so if we can keep that record going we'd love to."
Wishart was one of the Storm's best while starting in the halfback jersey against the Titans.
Star No. 7 Jahrome Hughes has been training with the main group and is expected to line up against the Eels. He was rested in the trials as a precaution after off-season shoulder surgery.
"Any opportunity to start, you want to take it with both hands," Wishart said.
"Fingers crossed Hughesy is OK. If I get the start I will give it my all."
Wishart will join the Perth Bears on a five-year deal at the end of the season, where he will get his wish to be a regular starting player.
He is determined to leave on a high.
"It was good to get my future sorted before the season started so I could push it to the side and really focus on this year," he said.
"I'm still a still Storm player and so grateful and stoked to be here. Any opportunity to put the Storm jersey on is special and I will be trying to make the most of it."
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