Craig Bellamy admits he misjudged the Origin arena when in charge of the Blues for three series

MASTER coach Craig Bellamy has made the candid admission he misread how to coach a State of Origin side during his time in charge of New South Wales.

Craig Bellamy admits making some big mistakes while in charge of the Blues.

MASTER coach Craig Bellamy has made the candid admission he misread how to coach a State of Origin side.

Bellamy has been without peer as a club coach this century with the Melbourne Storm but won just two out of nine games in his three-year term as NSW Origin coach from 2008.

“I did three years as Origin coach and there would be things I would do differently after a very unsuccessful reign,’’ Bellamy said at a lunch at the Toowoomba Turf Club on Friday.

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Craig Bellamy admits making some big mistakes while in charge of the Blues.

“It took me a series to understand what Origin was about. It’s different. I probably coached Origin too much like a club side.

“If I did it again I would not be as technical and tactical as I was. There was too much of that.

“Origin is not like rugby league. It is like another code. Sometimes referees put their whistles away and there are different things happen in Origin than there are in club games.

“I never played Origin as a player so I did not really understand what Origin was about.’’

Bellamy feels while NSW have chosen a fast, attacking side for the season opener he ponders whether they have the defensive “fibre’’ to match Queensland.

“It worries me a little bit that NSW have picked a flashy side,’’ he said.

“Nearly every player in that team if you put an A or a D for attack or defence – what was the best part of their game – you would circle the A.

Bellamy admits he coached NSW too much like an NRL club.

“I think the best part of nearly every NSW player is their attack. There are players Queensland can exploit defensively if they get a chunk of possession early.

“NSW have put a lot of faith in their attack and I am not sure whether they have the defensive fibre to hold out Queensland if they get a lot of possession.’’

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Originally published as Craig Bellamy admits he misjudged the Origin arena when in charge of the Blues for three series