Write-off Craig Bellamy and his simmering stable of champions at your own peril, because Mat Barnes senses a little bit of history repeating…
As a sports lover you are sometimes struck by an overwhelming sense of déjà vu that forces you to sit-up and take notice.
Like many I was prepared to put the red line through the Melbourne Storm for the 2022 NRL season, but I have decided to hold-off for one peculiar reason.
This 2022 Storm outfit and the plight they are currently experiencing shares some uncanny parallels with one of the greatest NRL Premiership tales of the modern era – that of Wayne Bennett and his 2006 Brisbane Broncos.
It’s as though the rugby league gods are paying homage to Bennett in his first sabbatical from coaching in 45 years by replaying his famous managerial masterpiece with a new starring cast.
The new lead is none other than master tactician Craig Bellamy who was coincidentally coached by Wayne at the Canberra Raiders in 1987, assistant coach to him at the Broncos from 1998-2002, and defeated by him in his first NRL Grand Final as head coach in… yep, you guessed it… 2006.
Bellamy’s supporting troupe is of course the celebrated Melbourne Storm who like Bennett’s Broncos of 2006 have been the most dominant club of the preceding 15 years with five grand final victories to their name.
These links between both dynasties are just the tip of the iceberg, so without further delay, let us delve a little deeper into the eerie symmetries between Bennett’s Broncos of 2006 and Bellamy’s Storm of 2022.
The Supercoach
2006
The 2006 Premiership is the crown jewel of Wayne Bennett’s glittering coaching career. He had nine players represent Queensland throughout the State of Origin period and constant instability in key positions with three fullbacks, three halfbacks and five hookers used throughout the season.
His ability to manage this turmoil and concoct the right formula when it mattered most to claim his sixth grand final victory as Broncos coach is a true testament to his incredible coaching acumen.
2022
Bellamy only had four players in the Origin fold this season but like Bennett is managing a squad in a constant state of disruption. His injured list is as long as the Yarra and includes season-ending injuries to four of his troops – one being star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen.
To become just the third coach in history behind Bennett and Ken Kearney to claim six grand final wins with one club, he will need to utilise the full spectrum of his coaching ability to navigate these losses and formulate a winning combination. If successful he would also create history by becoming the first coach to win an NRL title whilst missing their first choice fullback.
The Best Five-Eighth in the Game
2006
When a side boasts one of the most influential and potent attacking weapons in the game they are always a shot at victory. Darren Lockyer was that man for his entire career and 2006 was a signature year for the legendary Bronco.
He captained Brisbane to Premiership glory, Queensland to a series win and Australia to Tri Nations victory – the first person to achieve such a feat. Better yet he slotted the decisive field goal in the Grand Final and scored the winning tries in both the State of Origin decider and Tri Nations final – the latter in golden point.
Lockyer was at the peak of his powers and collected the Wally Lewis Medal and Dally M Five-Eighth of the year honours to boot. He was the one constant in the Brisbane spine and instrumental in their unlikely title push.
2022
Cameron Munster is far and away the best five-eighth in the game with daylight second. His ability to single-handedly inspire Queensland to victory in recent years has been remarkable and it is now time he exerts this influence at the business end of the season for the Storm. In previous Premierships he has had the likes of Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk by his side – now he is the main man.
His covid omission from the Origin decider prevented the opportunity for him to win the Wally Lewis Medal but his man of the match performance in the State of Origin opener was as significant a contribution as any in Queensland’s series win. If he can motivate his Melbourne teammates to Premiership success, play a leading role in an Australian World Cup triumph at year’s end and bag individual honours in the process – he will create a lasting legacy of his own.
The Gamebreaker at Dummy Half
2006
Shaun Berrigan is arguably the most versatile player to compete in professional rugby league in Australia. He didn’t just cover positions, he was of representative standard anywhere he played on the field.
He provided impact off the bench for Queensland in all three State of Origin matches in 2006 and took this form to Brisbane for the remainder of the season where his move to hooker unsurprisingly coincided with the Broncos’ uplift in form.
He scored five tries over the final seven games which included a double in the Preliminary final against the Bulldogs. His spectacular second try in the opening minutes of the second half sparked an epic 14-point comeback that saw the Broncos score 31 unanswered points and storm into the Grand Final. He duly rode this momentum into the following week where he was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for his Man of the Match performance.
2022
Harry Grant is already a bonafide NRL star and on track to becoming the best number nine in the game. Like Berrigan he played an emphatic hand off the Queensland bench in all three Origins and Melbourne will be leaning on him to use this as impetus for an immense finish to the season as he aims to make an impact in his first finals series as starting hooker. If Melbourne have any chance of winning the premiership they need Grant at his scything, scheming best and dominating in the big games.
The Hard-Nosed International Pack
2006
Bennett’s big boys laid the platform for the Broncos in the backend of the season. His pack was riddled with Test footy experience and boasted names such as Webcke, Civoniceva, Thorn, Thaiday, Carlaw and Carroll who worked-over the better packs and bashed the weaker ones into submission. Lockyer, Berrigan, Hodges and co would have been largely ineffective without them.
2022
Bellamy also has a pack possessing a plethora of battle-hardened international experience in the Bromwich brothers, Asofa-Solomona, Kaufusi and Brandon Smith. If they are to taste premiership glory they need to be at their aggressive, robust best to allow Munster, Grant and Hughes the time to go about their business.
The Farewell of a Front Row Legend
2006
An undeniable motivating factor for the Broncos was their desire to send club legend Shane Webcke into retirement with a fourth Premiership ring. Webcke was an uncompromising presence in the Broncos pack who inspired by action for 254 NRL games, no more so than when he played the 2000 Grand Final with a broken arm.
2022
He might not be retiring but you can bet the Storm will do everything in their power to send Jesse Bromwich out a winner. He has been an obstinate force in the middle for Melbourne throughout his 288 games and like Webcke will be entering the final stanza with his beloved club in search of a fourth Premiership ring. Coincidentally, he is leaving the Storm for a career swansong with Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins in 2023.
The Origin Period Stumble
2006
Brisbane were sitting pretty in 1st position at the halfway point of the 2006 season. In Round 14 whilst missing their Origin stars they suffered a crushing 20-point loss at the hands of the hapless Rabbitohs that began a slide of seven losses in nine games, including five straight, which saw them drop to 5th on the ladder with a handful of games remaining.
2022
Melbourne were exhilarating to start the season winning eight of their opening nine games – six of them by 14 points or more. Like the Broncos they shot to 1st place but this position was short-lived as an embarrassing 26 point defeat to the red-hot Panthers commenced a run of six losses in nine games, including four in a row, which also saw them drop to 5th on the ladder.
The Challenging Run Home
2006
Brisbane were seemingly out of answers and title contention in the eyes of many. Four of their final five games of the regular season were against Top-8 opposition which included the eventual Minor Premiers. They narrowly lost the opening two games of this stretch before winning the final three by an aggregate of 89-12 to eventually finish third. This included consecutive shutouts away from home against the Bulldogs and Eels that undoubtedly boosted them with the required belief and momentum leading into the finals.
2022
Melbourne also find themselves in a position where four of their last five games are against Top-8 opposition, which includes the likely Minor Premiers. It provides them a true opportunity to gauge where they are at against tough opposition and if they can string some wins together they will catapult into September brimming with confidence.
It might be fanciful to suggest that these coincidences signal some form of history repeating, but stranger things have happened.
If Craig Bellamy can mastermind a premiership in 2022, it too will be the crowning achievement of his distinguished career.
