Storm coach Craig Bellamy says Penrith will smash his team if they don’t address errors after clumsy win over Souths

A sluggish win over a side down the bottom of the NRL ladder was enough for Storm coach Craig Bellamy to be concerned ahead of a monster challenge.

Nick Meaney did some good things against Souths. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy says his ladder-leading team is “lacking some consistency” and left his men in no doubt what would happen against reigning premiers Penrith next week if they didn’t address their issues immediately.

After Thursday night’s clunky 28-16 win over 15th-placed South Sydney, which came after a shock home loss to St George Illawarra in the previous game, Bellamy said there would only be one outcome if his men were similarly sluggish against the Panthers.

“If we do that next week, the bloke up in the scoreboard is going to be busy on one side,” Bellamy said.

“And it won’t be our side.

“We’re just lacking some consistency at the moment, and it continued again tonight.”

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Storm led 26-4 early in the second half but only added a penalty goal on the siren as South Sydney ran in two tries as Melbourne made continual errors and struggled for fluency in attack.

Bellamy dismissed a suggestion his players had lost focus on the task in front of them and were thinking instead about the clash with the Panthers.

“No. I can honestly say that during the week the Penrith game was never mentioned,” he said.

“We’re always like that though. We take each game as it comes and don’t get too far ahead of ourselves.

“But it wasn’t great practice for what will be facing next week either.”

Star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen showed signs he was back to his best and giant prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona played his best game for the season.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona was among Storm’s best. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

But Bellamy said it seemed like some players were “looking for shortcuts” and that would bring them undone against the Panthers.

“I’m not sure what to think to be honest … There was some good patches but there wasn’t enough,” Bellamy said in his post-match press conference.

“When we had that lead, we needed to put the foot down but we didn’t. To me, we started looking for shortcuts and easy ways to do things.

“That doesn’t usually work and didn’t tonight. We’re lacking that consistency for 80 minutes.”

Storm will play triple premiers Penrith next Thursday night, the second of four Thursday night games in the final five rounds of the regular season, in a match that could determine the minor premiership.

Bellamy said he had “given up” trying to predict who could potentially return from injury for the clash, with Christian Welch, Eli Katoa and winger Xavier Coates among those on in the injury list.

Originally published as Storm coach Craig Bellamy says Penrith will smash his team if they don’t address errors after clumsy win over Souths